February 29, 2024 01:28 PM UTC

House Votes to Extend Some Government Funding for a Whole Week!

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• by: Colorado Pols

As The Washington Post reports, House Speaker “MAGA” Mike Johnson once again needed the help of Democrats in order to pass a ONE WEEK EXTENSION for funding critical government services:

The House on Thursday approved legislation to extend the expiration date for federal funding later into March, sending the measure to prevent a partial government shutdown that was set for Saturday to the Senate, where it is expected to pass.

Funds for several crucial federal agencies are set to expire just after midnight on Saturday. That would spark a partial government shutdown with broad, cascading impacts across the government and economy. Air traffic controllers would go unpaid, potentially contributing to travel delays. Food stamp programs could quickly run low on funding. Housing assistance for millions of families would fall into jeopardy. Another, larger shutdown cliff awaits just a week later, when funds for the rest of the government, including the Defense and State departments, will also expire unless Congress acts.

But Thursday’s bill, which passed by a vote of 320 to 99, would push the funding deadline for several agencies — including the departments Veterans Affairs, Transportation, Energy, Agriculture, Interior, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency — until March 8. Finances for the rest of the federal government would expire on March 22, two weeks later than under current law.

Yet lawmakers said that was small consolation. Congress was supposed to have several appropriations, or spending bills for the rest of the fiscal year, ready to pass by the end of the week. Instead, bickering over policy demands pushed the federal government to the brink of a shutdown again, necessitating another stopgap spending bill — the third since September — to buy more time. [Pols emphasis] 

It is well beyond ridiculous that House Republicans can’t even figure out how to accomplish the most basic function of KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT FROM COLLAPSING. As Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-Denver) explained via press release:

“We’ve now come to the brink of a shutdown multiple times. House Republicans have the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives – and with that majority comes the responsibility to govern. Their inability to compromise and pass a year-long funding deal is having real impacts. Cities like Denver have been waiting for months for desperately needed federal resources, and federal agencies are delaying critical work as they wait to see what House Republicans can support.

“I hope this is the last time House Democrats have to bail out House Republicans – allowing us to finally pass FY24 appropriation bills and refocus our attention on the pressing issues facing the American people.”

That last part is key. Congress can’t even have discussions about important legislation because Johnson can’t get 97 of his fellow Republicans to even cast a vote to keep paying air traffic controllers and fund food stamps and housing assistance programs. That’s right: 97 Republicans voted to stop paying for vital government services. Two of those “NO” votes came from Colorado Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Somewhere in Colorado) and Ken Buck (R-Greeley).

Kicking the can down the road to next week also imperils funding for even more important government programs and agencies.

We say it all the time because it’s always true: Republicans don’t WANT to govern. They’d rather post about their “convictions” on social media than do the actual work that their constituents expect of them.

When will the American people finally decide they’ve had enough?