House Republicans Criticize $1.2 Trillion Government Spending Package
The fate of a $1.2 trillion government spending package is uncertain as the House of Representatives is set to vote on it in the coming hours. Introduced by Congressional leaders around 3 a.m. on Thursday morning, less than 48 hours before the midnight Friday government funding deadline, this 1,012-page bill must pass both the House and Senate and be signed by President Biden to avert a partial government shutdown.
While multiple sources suggest that the package will likely pass, two GOP lawmakers and one senior GOP aide believe it will be a tight margin. Representative Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas, warns that nothing in the bill will effectively address the border crisis and asserts that any Republican who votes for it should be ashamed.
One Republican lawmaker revealed that they had to leave for a family emergency on Thursday, but were asked by House Republican leadership to return for the Friday morning vote. However, the bipartisan deal faced a setback on Thursday afternoon when one of its negotiators announced that he would vote against it on the House floor. He cited concerns over Democratic senators’ inclusion of home district funding priorities, such as LGBTQ centers and facilities that provide late-term abortions.
Representative Robert Aderholt, a Republican from Alabama and chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Labor and Health & Human Services, expressed his opposition to the bill, stating, “This is not the bill that my subcommittee produced and supported. The Senate has taken liberties with their Congressionally Directed Spending requests that would never stand in the House.” Aderholt further highlighted his concerns about funding social services for illegal immigrants and facilities that provide routine and late-term abortions, urging the Senate to respect the work of the House.
The funding package is facing opposition from the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus as well, accusing House GOP leadership of failing to secure conservative victories. The package accounts for approximately 70% of discretionary government spending, covering crucial areas such as the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Education, Health and Human Services, and the legislative branch. It is one of the six out of twelve total bills that Congress must pass each fiscal year to fund the government. Earlier this month, Congress passed six other bills totaling around $460 billion.
The future of the $1.2 trillion government spending package remains uncertain as Republicans voice their concerns and opposition. As the House prepares for the vote, it is yet to be seen if this bill will successfully navigate the partisan divide and secure the necessary support to avoid a government shutdown.
