Third Time’s the Charm: Congress Funds Govt and Avoids Shutdown

Merry Christmas, America – the looming shutdown has been averted … for now. That storm will return in March, but at least it won’t affect holiday travel or the paychecks of potentially many thousands of federal employees right before Christmas.

Stopgap Spending, Take Three!

An agreement was reached Monday, December 16, between lawmakers from both parties in both chambers of Congress, but Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) dropped that deal on Wednesday under pressure from his colleagues. For those who only follow the establishment media, it was President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk who tanked the bill. Those who looked deeper into the matter know there was considerable pressure from the GOP rank and file, as well.

The 1,547-page monstrosity was stuffed full of pork for all sorts of legislator pet projects, and many House Republicans made it clear that attempting to pass such a continuing resolution would earn Speaker Johnson a no vote from them on January 3 when the speakership is once again up for grabs.

Meanwhile, Trump announced his desire for the debt ceiling to be abolished – at least for a while. The House then held a vote Thursday for a much lighter backup version that cut considerable amounts of pork but also added a debt limit suspension through 2027. It failed. Democrats refused to raise the debt limit for a Republican president after having fought so hard for their own increases during the Biden administration – and 38 Republicans joined them. As a fast-tracked bill, it required a two-thirds majority to pass, and at 174-235, it came nowhere even remotely close. When Friday rolled around – the final day for funding to be passed in order to stave off the impending shutdown – the outlook seemed bleak. Republicans boasted they could make a deal that would pass in plenty of time and require no haggling with the Democrats. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) even suggested it could be done by 10 a.m. But even as reports continued throughout the morning that implied the time was nigh, the House remained recessed. It wasn’t until about 5 p.m. that the lower chamber was called back for 40 minutes of debate before a vote. As it turned out, the outspoken and optimistic Republicans had been only half right that morning: Yes, the continuing resolution passed, but it took quite a few Democrats to make it happen.

The Swamp Is Spared a Shutdown

Despite arguing against the funding bill – which was essentially the same legislation that failed Thursday but without Trump’s requested debt limit increase – more Democrats voted for it than Republicans. The final vote was 366 to 34, with all the no votes coming from Republicans. 196 Democrats voted for the 118-page package, while one voted present and 14 abstained. Just 170 Republicans supported the measure, while 34 opposed and 15 didn’t vote. Perhaps the Democrats who spoke changed their minds – or maybe they were persuaded by Rep. Mark Alford’s (R-MO) clever spin on a classic Christmas poem:

“Mr. Speaker, ‘twas five days before Christmas, and all through this house Not a lawmaker was resting, not even their spouse; The CR was stalled, the debate full of heat, While a shutdown shadow loomed over our streets; My friends, it’s time to fund our defense and aid for our farms, And disaster relief to protect our very own citizens from harm; Our farmers work hard, they deserve every chance, To grow and to prosper, advance and enhance; Mr. Speaker, this Christmas, this Christmas let’s give We the People their due, A funded government from leaders who are true; So, as we vote on this CR let’s keep this in sight, America First, and to all a good night.”

The bill went to the Senate, where it passed 85-11 shortly after midnight. Of the 11 “nays,” 10 were Republicans. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was the only other to oppose it. Notably, four senators didn’t vote, and they made an interesting mix – Adam Schiff, the California Democrat; Joe Manchin, the former Democrat from West Virginia who left the party and will be replaced in January by a Republican after not running for re-election in the recent election; Florida Republican Marco Rubio; and Ohio Republican JD Vance, who will in January become the next vice president. While technically beyond the midnight deadline, the bill did pass the Senate on time enough, and the White House announced that President Biden would sign it Saturday and that no government operations would be interrupted. For those hoping to avoid a holiday season shutdown, it was a Christmas miracle.