The Senate Seems Ready to Punt

“Senate Minority Whip John Thune said Congress may need to pass a short-term spending bill lasting until March, bypassing looming government funding deadlines on Jan. 19 and Feb. 2,” Punchbowl News reports.

“This is big news although not really surprising, especially after Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reached an agreement on topline spending figures. Of course, appropriators still need to set the funding levels for each of the 12 bills. And Johnson is promising to keep pushing for poison-pill policy riders. Schumer is insisting he’ll block them.”

“Some lawmakers have floated a weekslong CR to avert a Jan. 19 partial government shutdown. But Thune is suggesting that congressional leaders are thinking about a much longer stopgap that would extend the funding debate until March.”

“We also know that if Congress extends a deadline, it usually spends that time doing nothing.”