Staff Reports
As lawmakers take their much-needed summer recess, they are leaving behind a significant amount of unfinished business. Only one of the twelve appropriation bills necessary to fund the federal government has been passed by the House of Representatives. With the Senate planning to vote on its own version of the bills, there is a tight timeframe to avoid a government shutdown. The funding priorities of Democrats, who control the Senate, and Republicans, who control the House, are expected to clash, setting the stage for a tense battle when Congress returns. Democrats are eager to continue spending, while conservative Republicans are pushing for more cuts in line with their agenda.
Lawmakers Leave D.C. for Six-Week August Recess As Shutdown Looms https://t.co/7Qt5ETRNwn
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) July 28, 2023
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Republican leaders have managed to pass key legislation despite their narrower majority. However, these bills face significant opposition in the Democrat-led Senate, led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Adding to the challenge is the fact that the House and Senate funding bills will not be aligned, as the Senate has already started working on its own versions.
Scalise announces the House will be out at the end of the day until mid-September. No movement on finishing the agriculture appropriations bill. 1 out of 12 appropriations bills finished
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 27, 2023
https://twitter.com/MarkBurnettDC/status/1684763068704677888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1684763068704677888%7Ctwgr%5E5c1cb1f69284a2f126ed513a3cd3af14cd266fd8%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftownhall.com%2Ftipsheet%2Fspencerbrown%2F2023%2F07%2F28%2Faugust-recess-beings-shutdown-looms-n2626314
WATCH: U.S. House colloquy between @SteveScalise and @WhipKClark as members prepare to depart for August recess. pic.twitter.com/uU5kdDo3WO
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 27, 2023
It remains to be seen how successful House Republicans will be in pressuring Senate Democrats on spending as the clock ticks down. Regardless, there will likely be a blame game if funding is not renewed before the deadline. The White House is expected to resort to its usual fear tactics, but President Biden’s track record in finding common ground is not encouraging for negotiations.
Overall, the August recess provides a momentary break, but the impending clash over funding priorities makes it clear that partisan battles will continue when Congress returns. Republicans will remain steadfast in their push for spending cuts, while Democrats will seek to advance the Biden administration’s agenda through increased spending. It’s a classic showdown that will likely play out in the coming months.
