In Washington, two senators have succeeded in steering the debate over government funding away from partisan fights, creating a path for bills to pass with bipartisan support. However, just steps away, in the House of Representatives, a different story is unfolding.
House Republicans, in an attempt to win support from the far-right wing of the party, have included spending cuts and conservative policy priorities in their government funding packages. As a response, Democrats have criticized their GOP counterparts as extreme and bigoted, and are withdrawing their support for the legislation.
The contrasting approaches taken by the House and Senate are not uncommon in Congress. However, this time, the differences are particularly striking, creating a divide between the two chambers that may be difficult to bridge. This dynamic increases the likelihood of another damaging government shutdown, potentially as early as the end of September when last year’s funding expires.
With negotiations underway to determine the fate of billions of dollars in government programs, military aid for Ukraine, and emergency disaster recovery funds, leaders in both chambers are trying to project strength.
The Senate’s strategy is being led by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), the first female duo to hold the top leadership positions on the Senate Appropriations Committee. They have been working for months to craft 12 separate funding bills through the regular order process, which involves legislating in open committee hearings. The goal is to avoid passing a sprawling omnibus package, largely unseen, at the end of the year.
PHOTOS: The Senate’s bipartisan approach to government funding is putting pressure on a divided House
Murray stated, “They want the appropriations bill not to be some big conglomerate at the end of the year that nobody knows what’s in it.” Initially met with skepticism, Murray and Collins have garnered praise from leadership in both parties as the Senate progresses towards votes on their funding bills.
The coordination demonstrated by the Senate on these bills increases the pressure on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who had to abandon a plan to pass a defense funding bill after the House Freedom Caucus refused to support it. McCarthy emphasizes the importance of returning the appropriations process to regular order but faces challenges from within his own conference.
Meanwhile, House Republicans have pursued a hard-line approach, cutting below the agreement struck in May with President Joe Biden regarding the nation’s borrowing limit. They have also included conservative policy victories in the House’s appropriations bills, eliciting opposition from Democrats.
As time is running out and a government shutdown looms, House Republicans are under pressure to form an appropriations plan or pass a short-term measure to buy more negotiating time. McCarthy has made it clear that the consequences of a shutdown would not be favorable for the party.
The Senate’s bipartisan approach to government funding has put the House in a difficult position, and the outcome remains uncertain. As negotiations continue, the need for compromise and cooperation between the chambers becomes increasingly crucial.
