News

Congress to Vote on Funding Extension

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Andrew R. Michaud

• January 14, 2024

Congress is set to vote on another funding extension in order to prevent a government shutdown. The deadline has been pushed back to March, providing more time for deliberation and agreement.

Preserving the Two-Deadline Structure

The new deal, formulated by Speaker Mike Johnson, maintains the two-deadline structure. Under this arrangement, the upcoming deadlines are set for March 1 and March 8, as opposed to the current deadlines of January 19 and February 2.

The Continuing Resolution Proposal

The proposed solution, known as a continuing resolution, must receive approval from both the House and the Senate by Friday. Its purpose is to prevent a partial government shutdown.

Providing More Time for Consensus

This agreement grants Speaker Johnson, a representative of Louisiana, additional time to foster unity within his caucus. The faction has experienced divisions regarding spending cuts. Previously, certain Republicans expressed dissatisfaction with an agreement made earlier this month. This agreement provided funding for the government until 2024, with a budget totaling $1.59 trillion. It was a compromise reached between former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the Biden administration in the prior year.

Republican Opposition to Previous Agreement

Several Republicans disagreed with this previous agreement, as they advocated for more substantial spending cuts. Last week, a group urged Speaker Johnson to abandon the plan. However, the Speaker affirmed his commitment to the agreement that he initially announced a week ago.