Stopgap CR Bill to Avoid Government Shutdown

Following failure to pass a comprehensive spending bill last week, House Speaker, Mike Johnson (R-LA), invoked Plan B by announcing a short-term continuing resolution characterized as “very narrow and bare-bones”.  The bill that was adopted in the House by a margin of 341 to 82 on Wednesday 25th was stripped of extraneous, politically inspired provisions including the proof of citizenship requirement, engendering bipartisan support. The bill will extend government funding through December 20^th beyond the November election.

Speaker Johnson characterized shutting the Government down less than 40 days from a fateful election as “an act of political malpractice”.  Given the turbulence in the House, the members on both sides of the aisle with extreme views have had considerable practice in malpractice throughout the 118^th Congress.