On Tuesday, the continuing resolution (CR) spending bill backed by President Donald Trump passed with a vote of 217 to 213
The bill, which has been labeled “partisan” by Democrats, will fund the government until September 30, 2025. The GOP advanced the bill and needed overwhelming support in order to pass it, the one GOP vote that was opposed was Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). The number in the House is such that only two members of the GOP can oppose a measure if all members are present to push forward a party line item.
In a meeting on Tuesday, morning, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said, “We have to keep the government in operation. It’s a fundamental responsibility of ours. The vice president echoed that sentiment. It was very well received and very well delivered.”
Leading up to the vote, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of spending in the CR, which led Trump to threaten a primary against the Kentucky House member.
“Congressman Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic ‘NO’ vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him. He’s just another GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble, and not worth the fight,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Lawmakers gave floor speeches leading up to the vote, where Democrats railed against the bill as going after Social Security as well as entitlement programs. Several different Republicans opposed the talking point, arguing that the CR does not mention Social Security or Medicaid.
Lawmakers have said that the bill will cut $13 billion of non-defense spending as well as increase $6 billion for defense.
On Monday, the House Freedom Caucus said that its members would back the bill, adding that it would “reduce and then freeze spending for the next six months to allow President Trump and his Administration to continue their critical work within the Executive Branch to find and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse."
The bill will now go to the Senate, and if passed there, it will then go to the president. If signed the government shutdown deadline coming up on Friday will be avoided.
