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Republicans eye government funding punt to Nov. 21

The House could vote as soon as next week on a “clean” continuing resolution.

By Meredith Lee Hill, Katherine Tully-McManus, Jordain Carney and Jennifer Scholtes

Republican leaders are eyeing a House vote on a stopgap spending bill next week that extends government funding through Nov. 20 — up to the Friday before Thanksgiving — according to five GOP officials granted anonymity to describe the talks.

House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole of Oklahoma confirmed Thursday that the chamber plans to vote on a so-called “clean” continuing resolution next week, taking action on a measure Democratic leaders have suggested they will reject. A firm date for the expiration of the funding punt, however, has not been finalized.

Cole said the idea is to have the House move before a congressional recess for the Jewish high holidays the following week.

“We can do it. We’re not far,” Cole said. “But, you know, it’s also hard to do it the amount of time we have, because I think I probably have to be done by the end of next week.”

Senate Republicans could put the CR on the floor next week, as well, depending on when it passes the House, according to a person granted anonymity to discuss scheduling.

The Nov. 20 date is not fully locked in. Appropriators and leaders of both parties are all still working to include a package of three full-year bills written to fresh new levels, if an agreement between the House and Senate can be struck in time.

In a sign of progress, however, House and Senate negotiators have privately reached a bipartisan deal on overall totals for each of those three funding bills, according to two people familiar with the compromise, granted anonymity to discuss the private accord.

But Democrats are irked that Republicans are making funding plans without consulting them, especially amid broader bipartisan negotiations on spending bills.

“They ought to just cut the partisanship,” said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the Senate Democrat leading private bipartisan negotiations on the bill that funds the Department of Agriculture and the FDA.

The House can pass the stopgap funding patch without Democratic votes, if nearly every GOP lawmaker joins in support. But in the Senate, the backing of Democrats is needed.

“We know that working with our colleagues is really important,” said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), a senior appropriator. “And I assume that’s true in the House, because it’s difficult to pass appropriations bills with just Republican votes. So cooperation might lend itself well to getting this job done.”