US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (R-NY) have reached a deal to draft a bipartisan funding bill.
The official amount of government spending allowed by the bill would be set at $1.59 trillion.
If passed, the funding bill would replace the current funding legislation set to expire on January 19 and mostly cover defense spending. According to Axios, Speaker Johnson claimed the funding bill would also make spending cuts, including to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
While Johnson’s office called the bill “the most favorable budget agreement in years,” some conservatives are not entirely convinced.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claimed the deal funds “the status quo into perpetuity over fear of a government shutdown.”
Governor DeSantis continued, accusing House Republicans responsible for the bill of “selling out everything that they ran on in 2022.”
By agreeing to this Establishment budget deal, House Republicans are selling out everything that they ran on in 2022.
They promised to change the way Washington operates. They said that they were going to hold these agencies accountable. Instead, they’re funding the status quo… pic.twitter.com/CMz1piDuEu
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) January 9, 2024
House ‘Freedom Caucus’ members have criticized the spending bill, calling the bill a “total failure.”
Government spending will increase, claim some conservatives, as the official spending limit of the bill is lower than what the government will be able to spend through technical loopholes.
“Don’t believe the spin. Once you break through typical Washington math, the true total programmatic spending level is $1.658 trillion — not $1.59 trillion,” claimed the House Freedom Caucus.
It’s even worse than we thought.
Don’t believe the spin. Once you break through typical Washington math, the true total programmatic spending level is $1.658 trillion — not $1.59 trillion.
This is total failure. https://t.co/QBok5lpa6E
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) January 7, 2024
Meanwhile, Majority Leader Schumer has praised the bill, claiming it protects Democrat policy priorities.
“I am happy to say that Democrats protected vital priorities like housing programs, veterans' benefits, health care, nutrition programs, small business support, and climate investments,” said Schumer.
Schumer also warned that the deal will be off if conservatives attempt to modify the bill in ways that counter Democrat interests.
While Johnson’s proposal of the bill suggests sufficient conservative support exists to pass it, intraparty disagreement could halt it, potentially leading to a government shutdown.
