December 17, 2024 15:52 GMT
US: Congress Strikes Government Funding Deal, Likely To Anger GOP Conservatives
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Congressional leaders have struck a deal to extend government funding until March 14. The final text of the package is yet to be released but appears to include nearly all of the USD$100+ million in disaster relief requested by Biden and a one-year extension of the Farm Bill, which includes roughly USD$10 billion in economic assistance to farmers. The CR is also expected to include a package of China-related bills that crack down on US investment in some areas related to the Chinese tech sector.
- In striking the deal, which also includes swathes of unrelated policy, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has offered a glimpse of how difficult it will be for Republicans to legislate President-elect Donald Trump's agenda in the new year, when Johnson's House majority will shrink to just one vote.
- If Johnson chooses to adhere to an informal GOP rule allowing lawmakers 72 hours to consider legislation, the package is likely to be sent to the Senate shortly before the Friday midnight deadline, running the risk of a short, but largely inconsequential, lapse of funding for federal agencies.
- It is unlikely Johnson has sufficient support from House conservatives, so the package will likely be moved under suspension of rules with Democrat votes. The final vote number will provide a useful indicator of Johnson's support heading into his re-election vote on January 3. Weak Republican support may signal that Johnson faces the same unruly conference that rendered him a lame-duck for much of 2024.
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