Staff Reports
House Republicans are working hard to pass spending bills before the November election, but some lawmakers are worried that they will face the same problems that slowed down last year’s appropriations process.
GOP tees up next round of spending bills but roadblocks, pitfalls aboundhttps://t.co/NM7S7UauwP pic.twitter.com/7uxg3oBJaF
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 28, 2024
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise has a plan for lawmakers to pass all 12 spending bills by August 1, before taking a month-long break and heading into a busy campaign season. House Republicans believe that passing more spending measures will give them more power in negotiating final bills with the Democrat-run Senate and White House.
Last week, appropriators moved their first spending bill for Veterans Affairs and military construction out of committee, which is the first step in Mr. Scalise’s plan. The bill is expected to go to the House floor for a vote the week of June 3.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole is focused on getting the remaining bills through committee, and it will be up to GOP leaders to move them to the floor with the party’s narrow majority. Passing the bills will be a challenge, and it will require near unanimity from the Republican party.
Last year, Republicans struggled to find common ground on spending bills, leading to stalemates and disagreements. Some lawmakers rejected spending bills and procedural votes over disagreements on spending levels and policies. These struggles halted spending work and prompted House Speaker Mike Johnson to combine the annual spending bills into two large packages, which conservatives criticized as a return to old-fashioned Washington politics.
House Republicans are hopeful they can stick to the plan this year and pass each bill one at a time, known as regular order. However, this will only be possible if conservatives cooperate and support the bills, even if their proposed amendments fail.
Many on Capitol Hill expect a stop-gap spending bill to push the spending fight beyond the elections. Some conservative lawmakers want to extend government funding until March, hoping for a Republican victory, while others see this as a last resort and believe it could harm the American people.
The House Republicans’ plan to pass spending bills before the November election has faced challenges, but they remain optimistic that they can overcome these obstacles and work towards their goals.
