With just three scheduled legislative days left before a March 1 deadline to prevent a partial government shutdown, the House Freedom Caucus sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday seeking an update on behind-closed-doors appropriations talks with Democrats.
“With the expiration of government funding rapidly approaching, negotiations continue behind closed doors and as a result, we anticipate text for likely omnibus legislation that we fear will be released at the latest moment before being rushed to the floor for a vote,” the caucus stated in the letter. “House Republicans should not be left in the dark on the status of the spending levels and hard-fought policy provisions.”
The letter shared that House Republicans have worked hard on fiscal year 2024 appropriation bills, with “10 out of 12 bills passed out of committee and 7 bills sent to the Senate with hundreds of amendments considered and adopted.”
Provisions in the bills being negotiated are of concern, and in their letter the caucus listed numerous key elements of the proposed funding legislation that must remain, as they are critical to securing passage of the bills.
The caucus shared supported language to remain in the bills, such as prohibiting funding for radical “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Executive orders, defunding anti-American organizations such as World Economic Forum, defunding President Biden’s “New Green Deal,” and halting absurd and destructive bans on gas stoves and appliances.
The Freedom Caucus wrote, “There are MANY other policies and personnel that Congress should not be funding, and a failure to eliminate them will reduce the probability that the appropriations bills will be supported by even a majority of Republicans.”
“If we are not going to secure significant policy changes or even keep spending below the caps adopted by bipartisan majorities less than one year ago, why would we proceed when we could instead pass a year-long funding resolution that would save Americans $100 billion in year one?” the caucus questioned.
According to Reuters, “the letter was referring to a section of the 2023 Fiscal Responsibility Act that requires a 1% across-the-board spending cut, if the federal government is funded by a stopgap measure come April 30.”
Congressman Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.) joined his House Freedom Caucus colleagues in requesting an update from Johnson on the appropriations process.
In a press release, Rosendale warned, “After passing three stopgap spending bills in four months, the latest being passed in January, Congress is again looking at a CR [continuing resolution] being the tool used to fund the government instead of passing appropriations bills. If a CR is used, it will continue astronomical COVID-level spending that has not been adjusted since Nancy Pelosi was speaker.”
The press release continued:
“Procrastination is not an effective form of governance,” said Rep. Rosendale. “Our founders are rolling in their graves knowing that the leaders in our government are intentionally running out the clock on pertinent legislation just so they can force members to vote on spending they originally wouldn’t. The American people deserve better than the GOP rubberstamping of Pelosi’s bankrupt budget and Biden’s America Last policies.”
At this time, there has been no official response from Speaker Johnson. With only days left, the Freedom Caucus’ fear of yet another last-minute omnibus continuing resolution looks to be justified. However, it is apparent that House Republicans are divided and that passage of a CR will fail, resulting in a shutdown and potential enforcement of Fiscal Responsibility Act cuts.
