WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – If the House follows its own rules there’s not enough time to pass a bill to keep large swaths of the federal government funded past Friday night. Current House rules say members need 72 hours to read a bill before voting on it.
President Biden is ready to sign this bill package, but lawmakers are still debating how to get it to his desk.
If all goes well, lawmakers have a deal to keep the federal government running.
“That is my hope. That is my hope.,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Speaker Mike Johnson is optimistic lawmakers will avoid a partial federal shutdown at midnight Friday. Republicans are griping about the agreement.
“It’s a simple ‘no’ because they always cram stuff in there that’s unintentional. Nobody knows what’s in there,” said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.)
California Congressman Pete Aguilar says Democrats will support the bill to avoid a shutdown.
“We look forward to putting up the votes to pass this minibus,” said Aguilar.
The House first has to pass this final set of spending bills that include funding for the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the U.S.-Mexico border.
“The Homeland piece was the most difficult to negotiate because the two parties have a wide chasm between them,” said Johnson.
The Senate would then have to vote, which top Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer, says he would do immediately.
“It’s going to be a tight squeeze to get this funding package passed before the weekend deadline,” said Schumer.
Every senator would have to agree on speeding up the process and right now Utah Senator Mike Lee doesn’t want to budge.
“Once we get this bill, we shouldn’t be forced to rush to judgment on it,” said Lee.
The Senate’s top Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is less optimistic than Johnson telling his members to prepare to be here this weekend.
