LIVE UPDATES: Congress Races to Avert Government Shutdown
Home Freedom Caucus Chair: Spending Invoice Greater than That Below Pelosi-Schumer
Home Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (R-Va.) railed in opposition to the $1.2 trillion authorities spending invoice, saying it’s worse than the spending when the Democrats managed Congress below the management of Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Chief Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
“It does appear this invoice once more maintains the Pelosi-Schumer insurance policies and spending ranges precisely,” mentioned Mr. Good. “It really will increase spending ranges by about $60 billion that have been in place from the omnibus that all of us voted in opposition to a yr and a half in the past, however it has some new issues that we need to level out right here,” he mentioned at a press convention.
Mr. Good lamented the earmarks and $200 million for the brand new FBI headquarters within the invoice.
Greene to Vote No, Calls GOP Majority ‘Full Failure’
Re. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) mentioned on March 21 that she would vote no for the latest authorities funding package deal, voicing her frustration with the Home GOP majority.
“Our Republican majority is a whole failure,” mentioned Mr. Greene in a submit on X.
“We’ve got the facility of the purse, which implies we are able to management what the complete authorities does.”
Job Creators Community Urges Passage of Minibus
The nonpartisan Job Creators Community (JCN) launched an announcement calling on Congress to go the appropriations package deal.
“Job Creators Community continues to consider that the federal authorities is simply too massive and unelected bureaucrats have an excessive amount of energy,” mentioned Alfredo Ortiz, JCN president and CEO.
“That mentioned, we commend the Home for provisions within the Additional Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 that, amongst different issues, reduces funding for the IRS and the Division of Labor, claws again $2.6 billion in unused COVID funds, and ensures border patrol officers have the sources they should shield the nation. The Job Creators Community encourages all members of Congress to go this invoice.”
Home to Vote on $1.2 Trillion Spending Deal Hours Earlier than Shutdown Deadline
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1 hour in the past
The Home is ready to vote on a $1.2 trillion spending package deal at 11 a.m. ET on March 22 to fund 70 p.c of the federal government to avert a partial shutdown.
Whereas the Home will possible go it overwhelmingly, utilizing an expedited course of that requires a two-thirds majority for passage—along with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) waiving the Home GOP rule that requires members to have 72 hours to overview laws earlier than it’s voted on—how briskly it’ll go the Senate is unsure.
The invoice might go the Senate rapidly if no senator objects to expediting the method.
What’s within the $1.2 Trillion Authorities Funding Bundle
![What’s in the $1.2 Trillion Government Funding Package](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F03%2F21%2Fid5611910-03202024-DSC07724-US-Capitol-OP.jpg&w=3840&q=75%201x)
Within the wee hours of March 21, the textual content of the second appropriations invoice—totaling $1.2 trillion—to fund a lot of the U.S. authorities was unveiled.
The second tranche of spending laws covers 70 p.c of the federal authorities. This contains the Protection, Treasury, Homeland Safety, Labor, Well being and Human Providers (HHS), Training, and State departments.
If Congress doesn’t go the invoice by March 23, a partial authorities shutdown will happen.
Conservatives Categorical Anger Over $1.2 Trillion Spending Invoice
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11 hours in the past
![Conservatives Express Anger Over $1.2 Trillion Spending Bill](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F03%2F22%2Fid5612554-chip-roy.jpeg&w=3840&q=75%201x)
Conservative Republicans didn’t maintain again on March 21 over the $1.2 trillion spending invoice that may fund 70 p.c of the federal government—because the clock ticked towards a partial authorities shutdown on March 23.
The invoice, the textual content of which was unveiled within the early morning hours of March 21—lower than 48 hours earlier than a shutdown was set to start—instantly reignited tensions within the Republican convention and issues about Home Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) management of the decrease chamber.
“They did make some cuts, however it’s not what I would love,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) advised reporters in a mild voice.