Congress races to pass $1.2 trillion spending bill
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WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Congress is struggling to pass a budget bill to prevent large portions of the federal government from shutting down at midnight. The House approved the bill late this morning and now it’s the Senate’s turn.
Senate leaders are saying there’s still time to pass the bill before midnight but just one lawmaker could upend everything.
The House passed the $1.2 trillion dollar package to avoid a partial government shutdown just in the nick of time.
Texas Republican Chip Roy said the border security provisions don’t go far enough.
“I’m not afraid of a shutdown,” said Roy.
However, more Republicans voted against it than supported it.
“How long are we going to put up with this insane spending?” asked Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.)
Other Republicans, like Texas Congresswoman Kay Granger, supported the package noting more than 70% of the money would go to the Pentagon.
“I’m proud to say this bill strengthens our national security and funds critical defense efforts,” said Granger.
Democrats, like Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, largely supported the package for its support of low-income families and protections for women’s reproductive rights.
“We need to govern on behalf of the American people,” said DeLauro.
Some Democrats, like New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, still opposed the bill arguing its humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza doesn’t go far enough.
“This is a mass starvation of people,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
All of this could cost House Speaker Mike Johnson his job after Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene started an effort to remove him.
“Everyone has lost complete confidence in Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House,” Greene said.
President Biden says he’s ready to sign the package as soon as it passes. If it doesn’t pass by midnight the impact would be minimal this weekend since most federal workers are off duty and many government services are funded through earlier legislation but that would change if the Senate dragged this into Monday.
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