Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is seeking to lock down the votes to go his stopgap funding invoice and avert a authorities shutdown by Friday’s deadline, as he works to maintain the lights on in Washington in the course of the starting weeks of President Trump’s second time period.
Johnson unveiled a seamless decision on Saturday that will maintain the federal government funded till Sept. 30, the top of the fiscal yr. The stopgap would increase protection funding and lower non-defense packages.
President Trump endorsed the measure shortly after its launch, urging Republicans to “vote (Please!) YES” when it hits the ground. Home Democratic leaders, in the meantime, slammed the measure as a “partisan” invoice that “recklessly” cuts an a variety of benefits, saying that they are going to vote in opposition to the invoice.
With the vast majority of Home Democrats more likely to comply with their management’s lead, Johnson will want near-unanimity to maneuver the measure out of the decrease chamber, a prospect that continues to be unclear as numerous hardline conservatives and moderates withhold their votes.
Additionally this week, Home Democrats are scheduled to convene for his or her annual points convention in Leesburg, Va., because the caucus struggles to coalesce round a cohesive technique to fight Trump’s second administration. Throughout the Capitol, senators will vote on former Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s (R-Ore.) affirmation to be secretary of Labor.
Congress races to avert shutdown
Johnson is seeking to clear his persevering with decision on Tuesday and ship the measure to the Senate for consideration forward of the Friday-at-midnight shutdown deadline. It stays unclear, nevertheless, if he could have the votes to maneuver the measure out of his chamber.
If all Democrats oppose the measure and there’s full attendance, Johnson can solely afford to lose one Republican vote and nonetheless clear the invoice. And a few cracks are already rising within the Home GOP convention.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who continuously bucks the occasion on fiscal issues, is more likely to vote in opposition to the measure because it doesn’t embody a provision he championed in 2023 that will implement a one-percent lower on funding throughout the board. He additionally forged doubt on the thought of a stopgap final week.
Except for Massie, numerous different hardline conservatives have withheld assist from the invoice. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), for instance, instructed The Hill on Sunday that he was undecided on the measure.
Even some reasonable Republicans stopped in need of instantly backing the measure. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) stated on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday “like most bills, there’s some good in there, there’s some not so good in there,” noting that he had not but taken a place on the laws. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), in the meantime, stated on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday he would make a “game-time decision” of whether or not or to not again the measure.
The apprehension amongst each corners of the Home GOP convention is spelling hassle for Johnson, who might want to get his geese in a row forward of Tuesday’s anticipated vote and Friday’s shutdown deadline.
If the measure does, nevertheless, squeak by way of the Home, its destiny within the Senate stays unclear, with at the least seven Democrats wanted to affix Republicans in supporting the measure to clear the 60-vote threshold and ship the invoice to Trump’s desk. Only one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), has to this point signaled that they might assist the measure.
Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), the highest Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, launched a press release on Saturday slamming the measure as a “slush fund continuing resolution that would give Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power over federal spending,” signaling that she, and like others in management, would oppose the invoice.
Even some Democrats who symbolize swing states are casting doubt on the measure. Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) — who represents the state of Michigan, which Trump gained in November — stated she remains to be pushing for language within the measure that will be sure that the president correctly directs cash that’s appropriated by Congress.
“The fundamental point, at least as I approach this, is that the president has been deciding how to spend the money anyway he wants even when we have a budget that both Democrats and Republicans voted on. That’s a constitutional issue, right?” Slotkin stated on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “Everyone knows Congress has the power of the purse. So until I see some assurances that whatever we pass next week is going to ensure that the money is spent the way Congress intends, I’m going to withhold my vote until I see that.”
Senate to carry last vote on Chavez-DeRemer for Labor secretary
Chavez-DeRemer is anticipated to be confirmed as the following secretary of Labor Monday night time, inserting her atop the division following an unconventional nomination course of.
The Senate is scheduled to vote at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
Chavez-DeRemer’s seemingly affirmation comes days after the Senate superior her nomination in a bipartisan 66-30 vote, tee-ing her up for a last vote.
Weeks in the past, nevertheless, her affirmation didn’t look as certain.
In contrast to different nominees, Chavez-DeRemer drew scrutiny from some Republicans for her assist for the PRO Act, a measure supported by Democrats that will assist strengthen the power for unions to arrange. Chavez-DeRemer co-sponsored the laws when she served within the Home.
That historical past prompted Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to vote in opposition to Chavez-DeRemer within the Senate Well being, Training, Labor and Pensions Committee. Help from a trio of Democrats, nevertheless, helped dispatch her to the Senate ground.
Home Democrats to carry points convention
Home Democrats are scheduled to collect in Leesburg, Va., for his or her annual points convention this week, a retreat that comes because the occasion continues to seek for a cohesive message — and apt messenger — to fight the second Trump administration.
The convention is scheduled to happen from March 12 by way of March 14.
It stays unclear, nevertheless, what is going to occur with the retreat if the Home fails to go a funding invoice by Wednesday. With the shutdown deadline on Friday at midnight, the caucus’s plans may very well be thrown a curveball.
The agenda, in the meantime, is already taking form. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D), Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) are all scheduled to talk on the occasion, in accordance with Politico.
Within the first month and a half of the second Trump administration, Democrats on Capitol Hill labored — and at occasions failed — to search out an efficient strategy to message in opposition to the president’s actions. The caucus has largely slammed the GOP’s potential plans to slash Medicaid of their sweeping agenda invoice and strikes made by the Division of Authorities Effectivity (DOGE).
These concepts, nevertheless, had been largely drowned out final week, when protests at Trump’s handle to a joint session of Congress dominated the dialog following the speech.
Home Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (Calif.) stated the group this week will give attention to addressing the price of dwelling and their path to successful again management of the decrease chamber subsequent yr.
“While Republicans squander their majority by failing to address the cost of living crisis, House Democrats are United to Win and deliver real relief for the American people,” Aguilar stated in a press release when the convention was introduced earlier this yr. “Now more than ever, families across the country are counting on us to rise above the partisan politics that have defined Republican control and find bipartisan solutions for their most pressing concerns. This year’s Issues Conference will underscore that commitment and help our Caucus chart the path to reclaiming the People’s House.”
