U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson floated a short-term spending plan over the weekend to avoid a federal government shutdown, but legislators – including Arizona’s Congressional delegation – are split over the proposal.
The unique two-step plan would fund some government agencies through Jan. 19 and others through February as lawmakers attempt to hammer out a longer term deal. The stopgap proposal does not include money requested by President Joe Biden for Ukraine, Israel and U.S. border security.
Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly says he isn’t confident the House will send the Senate a bipartisan bill that can pass.
“The problem we, that we’re currently dealing with is there are now individuals in the House that at times seem to prefer the option of a government shutdown,” Kelly said. “That’s a problem.”
But Congressman David Schweikert, R-AZ, said he doesn’t believe Johnson is facing the same pressure as his predecessor, California Republican Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted by members of the Freedom Caucus after relying on Democrats to pass a short-term spending plan in September.
“Even some of the crankier members may have come to the reality of how difficult it is to dice apart these appropriation bills, understand what's in them, and then fix it,” Schweikert said.
Johnson defended the proposal in a statement posted to social media, arguing it will avoid having Congress take up a large spending package before the Christmas holiday.
"The bill will stop the absurd holiday-season omnibus tradition of massive, loaded-up spending bills introduced right before the Christmas recess,” he wrote.
NPR reported the proposal was criticized by both the Biden administration and some Republican lawmakers.
But two Arizona Republicans, Schweikert and Congressman Paul Gosar, expressed confidence in Johnson’s plan.
“It’s basically moving the portions you can move and giving some different timelines,” Schweikert said.
The federal government will run out of money if a new spending deal isn’t reached on Friday.
