In a recent poll, voters express concerns about the American dream slipping away. Against this backdrop, Rep. Ken Buck, a prominent member of the House Freedom Caucus, predicts that his Republican colleagues will have to swallow a massive “omnibus” spending bill to fund the government in fiscal year 2024. Buck, who has served in the House since 2015, highlights the pervasive fractures within the conference, stating that the House GOP is unlikely to pass 12 individual appropriations bills to fund the government.
Buck points out the challenge of adopting conservative policies due to opposition from moderates, as well as the difficulty in meeting spending levels favored by moderates because of conservative opposition. As a result, Buck suggests that the House leadership will need Democrat votes to pass spending bills, potentially requiring minibuses or an omnibus in the coming year.
Buck’s prediction comes in the wake of the ousting of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy, with whom he and seven other House Republicans voted against due to his handling of the government funding debate. When asked about Speaker Mike Johnson’s performance, Buck acknowledges that Johnson is doing the right things to keep the government open and is working with the best numbers he can. Buck notes that Johnson’s recently passed continuing resolution (CR), which extends last year’s government funding levels temporarily, has a lower topline number than the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) deal struck by McCarthy and President Biden.
While Buck admits that a CR for 2024 is not ideal, he believes it is a better number than what McCarthy had proposed. He also defends Johnson, stating that he is acting with good intentions, even though some members have expressed dissatisfaction. Buck emphasizes that Johnson is trying to work with the numbers and keep the government open, suggesting that Johnson’s job may not be in peril.
Currently, government funding faces two deadlines due to a two-tiered stopgap funding bill passed by Congress. The bills concerning military construction and Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Energy and Water; Transportation; and Housing and Urban Development must be addressed by January 19, while the remaining eight appropriations bills must be resolved by February 2. Buck believes this timeframe is more rational than previous holiday deadline pressures but expresses doubts about having enough votes to pass desired numbers and policies.
As the government funding debate continues, it remains to be seen how the House GOP will navigate the fractures within the conference and secure the necessary votes. Digital has reached out to Johnson’s office for comment on this matter. Elizabeth Elkind, a reporter for Digital, covers Congress and the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and politics. She has previously written for the Daily Mail and CBS News.
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