Congress Faces Tight Deadline to Avert Government Shutdown After Recess
TL/DR –
Lawmakers will return to Capitol Hill on September 13 to finalize a government funding plan with only three weeks to avert a shutdown. Republicans have proposed a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded until March 2023 while also advocating for a non-citizen voting bill. However, there is bipartisan opposition to the plan, with the White House threatening to veto the measure, and many Democrats describing it as an “unserious and unacceptable” approach, indicating potential difficulties in reaching an agreement.
Government Funding Fight on Capitol Hill
Washington — Congress is set to return from a lengthy August recess amidst an impending government shutdown. Lawmakers must finalize government funding by Oct. 1 to prevent the shutdown. A stopgap measure will likely be passed due to the tight timeline.
Republican Strategy for Funding Negotiations
House Republicans have proposed a continuing resolution to fund the government until March 28, with the inclusion of a contentious non-citizen voting bill. The bill was unveiled by Speaker Mike Johnson to House Republicans last week.
Reaction to the SAVE Act
The coupling of the SAVE Act, aimed at requiring proof of citizenship for voting in federal elections, with the stopgap measure was an official stance of the House Freedom Caucus. The move has been opposed by House Democrats and the White House who accused Republicans of brinkmanship and said the voting legislation would not protect elections but make it harder for Americans to register to vote.
Reactions from Leaders
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democratic appropriator in the Senate, criticized the GOP’s strategy, arguing that avoiding a shutdown requires bipartisanship. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries labeled the move as unserious and unacceptable.
Future Funding Uncertain
The duration of the temporary measure remains undetermined. Speaker Johnson indicated he does not wish to resort to a pre-holiday omnibus package to fund the government. Depending on the outcome of the upcoming election, pushing the funding deadline to the new year could benefit Republicans.
Internal GOP Opposition
However, there is disagreement within the GOP. Rep. Matt Rosendale, a Montana Republican, criticized the plan, calling it a messaging bill that would neither ensure a short-term resolution nor reduce the deficit.
About the Author
Kaia Hubbard is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital, based in Washington, D.C.
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