Congress votes to keep government offices open until March

A continuing resolution to keep the lights on and doors open in some government offices was headed to President Joe Biden’s desk on Thursday. The House and Senate voted to pass a spending package earlier in the day that largely maintained current spending levels through the beginning of March, keeping some government offices funded until March 1 and others until March 8.

What did these votes look like on the chamber floors? The Senate approved the measure 77-18, and the House approved it 314-108. Many House Republicans voted against the bill, arguing it mandated too much government spending.

Does that threaten Mike Johnson’s job security? Some Republicans voted to take the gavel from House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., last year after he crossed the aisle to work with Democrats on passing a stopgap spending measure. All Democrats sided with the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy. Johnson has since agreed with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to pass a spending bill for the remainder of 2024. He had previously said he would not allow a continuing resolution. He then worked with Democrats in Thursday’s vote to pass a continuing resolution to give him more time to pass the spending agreement he and Schumer reached. Some Republicans have pressured him to go for steeper cuts and to avoid the temporary solution of a continuing resolution.

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report in The Stew about a bipartisan effort to bolster child and business tax credits.