House Narrowly Passes Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown | EUROtoday

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WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Tuesday accredited a authorities funding invoice that will avert a Friday evening shutdown if it clears the Senate by then.

The vote was one other victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who as soon as once more overcame opposition from a number of Republican lawmakers who initially withheld assist for the measure.

The invoice handed by a vote of 217-213, with one Republican towards and one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine), in assist. It’s the primary time in years Republicans have accredited a authorities funding invoice without having substantial Democratic assist, however the second time in two weeks Republicans united amongst themselves on a high-stakes House vote thanks to assist from President Donald Trump.

The invoice can’t go the Senate, nonetheless, with out assist from at the very least eight Democrats, which means both Democrats go together with the Republican laws or threat being blamed for a partial authorities shutdown.

“If congressional Democrats refuse to support this [legislation]they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government,” Johnson mentioned Tuesday.

Johnson bought his personal social gathering to assist the decision thanks to assist from Trump and his threats to again main opponents towards disloyal Republicans.

“We have to remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the one Republican who voted towards the measure, complaining that it doesn’t make vital cuts to federal spending. Massie has opposed related funding resolutions prior to now and likewise voted towards a price range decision final week that begins the method for enacting main tax and spending cuts.

Trump used candy discuss on some members, equivalent to Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who mentioned he spoke to Trump and obtained assurances the president would assist reducing spending sooner or later. “I am confident in his ability to lead our country out of the debt crisis that has plagued us for decades,” Steube mentioned on X.

But Trump made a high-profile instance out of Massie, threatening to again a challenger in a Republican main towards Massie subsequent yr.

“Thomas Massie is a GRANDSTANDER, and the Great People of Kentucky are going to be watching a very interesting Primary in the not too distant future!” Trump wrote Tuesday earlier than the vote. In one other publish, Trump mentioned he would “lead the charge” towards Massie.

“POTUS is spending his day attacking me and Canada,” Massie mentioned on X. “The difference is Canada will eventually cave.”

The threats didn’t sway Massie, who famous that he’s beforehand overwhelmed MAGA main opponents, however they could have helped the opposite Republican holdouts get to sure.

A half-dozen GOP lawmakers had mentioned they hadn’t made up their minds as of Tuesday morning.

“I just don’t like the Pentagon always getting the largesse,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) informed HuffPost, noting that the invoice elevated funding for the navy even because it barely pared again discretionary spending general, which he mentioned was a very good factor.

Vice President JD Vance helped sweeten the deal by telling Republicans in a personal assembly on Tuesday morning that the Trump administration would minimize spending by itself with assist from billionaire Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency. (Democrats opposed the laws for largely the identical purpose.)

Republicans who backed the invoice all alongside mentioned it felt like a well-known routine to have a number of holdouts on some vote or different in the end cave below strain from Trump.

“It’s Groundhog Day,” Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) informed HuffPost, referring to the 1993 movie wherein a TV weatherman wakes up each morning on the identical February day.

“I can’t tell the difference between statesmanship and showmanship sometimes,” Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) mentioned.

Democrats decried the laws’s comparatively modest spending reductions in addition to Republicans’ refusal so as to add language disallowing the Trump administration from hacking away at federal businesses.

“The House Republican spending bill is an attack on everyday Americans,” Democratic chief Hakeem Jeffries mentioned. “It will cut health care, cut veterans benefits and cut nutritional assistance to children and families.”

The invoice’s most dramatic minimize is perhaps to the Washington, D.C., metropolis price range, which Republicans insisted on reverting to final yr’s ranges despite the fact that the town doesn’t run on federal funds. City leaders mentioned the minimize may end in layoffs to metropolis personnel equivalent to academics and law enforcement officials.

Congress technically controls the town authorities, however lawmakers haven’t exerted their energy over the town in such an aggressive means for a very long time. The transfer appears at the very least partly motivated by a partisan dislike of the town’s native elected leaders, who’re virtually all Democrats.

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“I do think the authority of Washington, D.C., needs to be reined in a little bit,” Rep. Michael Cloud (R-Texas) informed HuffPost. “Hopefully this will bring them to the table.”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/house-passes-government-funding-bill_n_67d09a5de4b010bbdaee5405