Just hours before the deadline to avert a government shutdown, the House successfully passed a bill with strong bipartisan support, securing a vote of 366-34-1. The bill, fast-tracked under the suspension of rules, was then sent to the Senate. It aims to extend government funding until March 14, maintain the farm bill for a year, and provide significant disaster relief and farm aid, but notably excludes any provision to raise the debt ceiling. This decision avoided a contentious demand from President-elect Trump, opting instead for a future $1.5 trillion increase in the borrowing limit tied to $2.5 trillion in planned spending cuts. The bill’s passage followed intense negotiations and multiple bill versions, reflecting internal Republican debates and external pressures from influential figures like Trump and Elon Musk. The House leadership, under Speaker Mike Johnson, faced scrutiny over its handling of the negotiations, with some party members openly questioning his leadership as the House prepares for another leadership vote on January 3.
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