The deadline for a government shutdown is fast approaching, and over the weekend, House Republicans introduced a stopgap funding bill that would keep the government funded into next year.
With just five days until the government runs out of funding, Congress will have little room for error in getting the bill passed. The measure brought forth on Saturday is a two-step continuing resolution.
This CR is being called a “laddered CR” and will require several spending bills to keep the government open until Jan. 19, while the remaining bills would go on a CR until Feb. 2.
The bill does not include budget cuts or aid for Israel, a pair of hotly divisive topics that could make or break for some members of Congress.
Some members of the GOP are not pleased with the bill, as they expected budget cuts to be included.
Among those to voice their opposition included Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who shared his thoughts on X.
“It’s a 100% clean. And I 100% oppose,” Roy tweeted. “My opposition to the clean CR just announced by the Speaker to the @HouseGOP cannot be overstated. Funding Pelosi level spending & policies for 75 days — for future ‘promises.’”
While the plan may be meant to avoid a government shutdown as the holiday season begins, Johnson is also looking to buy more time to pass individual spending bills.
“This two-step continuing resolution is a necessary bill to place House Republicans in the best position to fight for conservative victories,” Johnson said in a statement. “The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded-up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess.”
Still, the pressure is on Johnson as the bill needs to pass the House and Senate, which could tank the measure with its Democrat majority.
“I implore Speaker Johnson and our House Republican colleagues and learn from the fiasco of a month ago. Hard-right proposals, hard-right slash, and cuts, hard-right poison pills that have zero support from Democrats will only make a shutdown more likely,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said in a floor speech last Thursday.
Despite this, Johnson said that his approach, which was criticized by Senate Democrats and the White House, is the best approach to fiscal responsibility.
“Separating out the CR from the supplemental funding debates places our conference in the best position to fight for fiscal responsibility, oversight over Ukraine aid, and meaningful policy changes at our Southern border,” the speaker said.
A vote is expected on the measure in the House as soon as Tuesday, leaving the Senate three days to vote on it by the Friday deadline if it advances.
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