US Senate Republicans say stopgap needed to avert shutdown, potential problem for JohnsonWASHINGTON, Jan 9 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans said on Tuesday that a short-term funding measure will be needed to avert a partial federal government shutdown beginning in 10 days - a notion Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson could have trouble swallowing.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell told reporters that lawmakers will "obviously" need a short-term continuing resolution, or "CR," to allow bipartisan negotiators from both chambers time to agree on full-year 2024 spending bills and for Congress to enact the legislation.
"We're going to have to pass a CR," McConnell said. "We need to prevent a government shutdown."
A short-term CR could put top House of Representatives Republican Johnson in a precarious position, after he pledged last year to oppose further short-term CRs, absent real progress on full-year funding and substantial policy reforms. His office was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.
Schumer and Johnson on Sunday agreed to $1.59 trillion in discretionary spending for fiscal 2024, which began on Oct. 1.
Earlier on Tuesday, Senator John Thune, the chamber's No. 2 Republican, told reporters that lawmakers would most likely need a CR that lasts until sometime in March.
Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declined to answer a reporter's question about the potential for a CR...............
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-senate-republicans-say-stopgap-needed-avert-shutdown-potential-problem-2024-01-09/
