President Joe Biden on Thursday signed the stopgap spending bill into law, averting a shutdown for now and setting up a contentious fight over funding in the new year.
The measure, which passed both chambers with bipartisan support in a major victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson, is an unusual two-step plan that sets up two new shutdown deadlines in January and February.
The plan is not a full-year spending bill and only extends funding until January 19 for priorities including military construction, veterans’ affairs, transportation, housing and the Energy Department. The rest of the government – anything not covered by the first step – will be funded until February 2.
They could separate their budget from legislation. Like just about every other country.
Do they even pass legislation outside of budget omnibusses anymore?
Yes, there’s plenty of stuff that flies through with bipartisan support. It’s almost universally stuff that benefits the rich at the expense of the working class, so (a) that’s why both parties support it and (b) that’s why you don’t hear much about it from the media.