Biden’s strategy amid imminent government shutdown: Disregard House, align with Senate.
President Biden Unlikely to Sign Continuing Resolution from House Republicans
White House officials have stated that President Joe Biden is unlikely to sign any continuing resolution from House Republicans. This comes as the Senate makes bipartisan efforts to fund the government through the full appropriations process.
White House Seeks to Undercut Support Among Centrist House Republicans
The White House is also aiming to undermine support among centrist House Republicans for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s attempts to put together a continuing resolution before the government funding deadline at the end of the month.
According to White House officials, McCarthy’s legislation breaks the spending truce agreed upon by the president and the speaker earlier this summer. The spending levels set by McCarthy are below the agreement reached during the debt ceiling showdown.
Officials believe that centrist Republican lawmakers are not fully aware of the potential long-term funding cuts resulting from McCarthy’s “partisan games.” These cuts could impact programs supported by the GOP and conservative voters.
The White House has distributed a fact sheet outlining the potential impacts of McCarthy’s legislation. Some of these impacts include:
- 800 fewer U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers, leading to increased smuggling of drugs into the country
- 125,000 seniors and children losing access to healthcare and nutritional services
- 110,000 children losing slots in the Head Start program
- 40,000 fewer teachers, affecting 26 million students
- 145 fewer local law enforcement officials due to Department of Justice cuts
- 250,000 American workers losing job training and employment opportunities
“The continuing resolution they introduced this week makes indiscriminate cuts to programs that millions of hardworking Americans count on — violating the agreement the Speaker negotiated with President Biden and rejecting the bipartisan approach of the Senate,” the fact sheet reads. ”House Republicans have made clear that these cuts are designed to force longer-term cuts, in-line with their extreme and damaging appropriations bills.”
The White House also highlighted McCarthy’s inability to unite the most conservative wing of the caucus around a single spending proposal.
McCarthy suspended action on the continuing resolution until later in the week following an all-conference meeting.
Earlier in the day, the White House criticized House Republicans for prioritizing impeachment hearings of President Biden over preventing a government shutdown.
“Staging a political stunt hearing in the waning days before they may shut down the government reveals their true priorities: To them, baseless personal attacks on President Biden are more important than preventing a government shutdown and the pain it would inflict on American families,” wrote White House spokesman Ian Sams in a statement.
The Senate, on the other hand, is making slow progress in funding the government through normal appropriations channels, which the president supports.
All 12 annual spending bills were passed out of committee with bipartisan support earlier in September. However, Sen. Ron Johnson invoked Senate Rule XVI to block a “minibus” amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is moving toward suspending Senate rules to allow the minibus to advance.
“It’s unfortunate that one member who does not represent the views of most senators prevented us from moving forward last week,” said Schumer.
However, Democrats would still need two-thirds support from the full chamber to suspend Rule 16, which Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin admitted is “not an easy thing.”
How does President Biden’s support for the Senate’s funding efforts reflect the need for a more comprehensive and responsible approach to government funding
Rely on,” said a White House official. “It’s disappointing that instead of working to find common ground, they’re playing politics with people’s lives.”
Senate Takes Different Approach with Bipartisan Funding Efforts
While House Republicans are pushing for a continuing resolution, the Senate is taking a different approach. A bipartisan group of senators has been working to fund the government through regular appropriations bills, rather than relying on short-term continuing resolutions.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is working diligently to pass individual spending bills for different government agencies. This approach, supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, allows for a more thorough consideration of funding needs and priorities.
President Biden has expressed support for the Senate’s efforts, describing it as a “responsible and effective way to ensure the government is funded without the need for temporary patches.” The president sees this approach as a necessary step to avoid the frequent budget battles and uncertainties associated with short-term funding resolutions.
Impact of House Republicans’ Continuing Resolution
If House Republicans’ continuing resolution were to be signed into law, it could have detrimental effects on various sectors and programs. The potential cuts outlined by the White House fact sheet are concerning, particularly for those who rely on essential services.
Reducing the number of U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and officers could exacerbate the issue of drug smuggling and compromise national security. The loss of access to healthcare and nutritional services for seniors and children is a significant concern, as it could lead to adverse health outcomes and increased healthcare costs in the long run.
The impact on education is equally alarming, with tens of thousands of teachers being laid off and millions of students affected. The Head Start program, which provides early childhood education and support to low-income families, would also suffer significant cutbacks, depriving many children of valuable learning opportunities.
Furthermore, the reduction in local law enforcement officials due to Department of Justice cuts could negatively impact public safety and crime prevention efforts in local communities. American workers losing job training and employment opportunities could lead to increased unemployment rates and economic instability.
Conclusion
As the government funding deadline approaches, the differences in approach between House Republicans and the Senate become more apparent. While the Senate seeks to fund the government through regular appropriations bills, House Republicans’ continuing resolution faces opposition from the White House and potentially undermines support among centrist Republicans.
The potential impacts of House Republicans’ continuing resolution are significant, affecting critical areas such as border security, healthcare, education, and law enforcement. President Biden’s unlikely signing of such a resolution reflects the need for a more comprehensive and responsible approach to government funding.
As negotiations continue and discussions on funding priorities persist, it is crucial to consider the long-term consequences of funding decisions and prioritize the well-being of the American people.
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