In shutdown fight, fiscal hawks in US Congress push for flat spending

Democrats are blocking government reopening to demand fixes on healthcare subsidies and contentious issues. (EPA Images pic)

WASHINGTON: Republican fiscal hawks in Congress are making a new pitch in the struggle to end the longest government shutdown in US history: Continue to spend at the same rate as last year for as long as possible.

That approach would not cut discretionary spending but also not add to the roughly one-quarter of the US$7 trillion federal budget that lawmakers are fighting about and – to some observers – also represents a resignation that the deeply divided institution is unlikely to agree on a path forward anytime soon.

The idea did not have broad support among President Donald Trump’s Republicans, who hold majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives, and would mean they were ready to leave the budget essentially unchanged from levels agreed to under Democratic former president Joe Biden, adding about US$1.8 trillion a year to the nation’s US$38 trillion in debt.

The hardline House Freedom Caucus, influential in the Republicans’ 219-213 House majority, argued in a policy statement for a stopgap funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, with an “ideal” end date after the November 2026 midterm elections – well after the current fiscal year ends on Sept 30, 2026.

That proposal, the group said, would “effectively keep federal discretionary spending flat at the same levels since 2023, and it will block any further effort by Democrats and the Swamp to advance a budget-busting, pork-filled, lobbyist handout.”

It would make a change from a group that long opposed continuing resolutions, known as CRs, because they did not cut spending.

“Many conservatives have been reluctant to support continuing resolutions in the past,” said Matthew Dickerson, budget director at the conservative Economic Policy Innovation Center, noting a change in tactic after Congress in March 2025 passed a full-year stopgap bill – with the help of Democratic votes – and then went on to pass Trump’s signature tax and spending bill with only Republican votes.

“Many of those same dynamics and challenges are still in play now, leading conservatives in the House, Senate, and the administration to see a long-term CR as the most responsible compromise,” Dickerson added.

‘Best we can do’

Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said in an interview that a longer-term CR is “probably the best we can do, unfortunately.”

This push for another full-year CR is at odds with Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s promise to pursue the regular appropriations process that calls for Congress to pass 12 appropriations bills – something that it has failed to do on time in almost three decades.

Republican Senate Appropriations chair Susan Collins of Maine instead pushed for a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government that would last into December, meant to buy time for lawmakers to agree on a broader deal.

Other Senate Republicans argued for a mid-January timeline to allow for more funding negotiations.

Senator Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the appropriations committee, this year dismissed full-year CRs as a “power grab” because it cedes congressional spending authority to the executive.

Most Senate Democrats have voted 14 times against a stopgap funding bill, passed by the Republican-controlled House in September, that was meant to patch government funding until Nov 21 so the appropriations process could continue after the end of the fiscal year on Sept 30.

Democrats are withholding their votes to reopen the government as they push for a fix to healthcare insurance subsidies and other hot-button issues, like how senators could address the Trump administration’s firings of federal workers.

“By appropriating, we are following President Trump’s initiatives and the things that he’s put in his budget,” said Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, a Republican appropriator, rejecting the idea.

Another issue: extending a stopgap funding bill does not include the Trump administration’s rescission cuts to foreign aid spending, nor any changes to the federal government workforce stemming from the department of government efficiency, increasing the prospect of more partisan rescissions.

Author:

5 thoughts on “In shutdown fight, fiscal hawks in US Congress push for flat spending

  1. Er sorgt für faire und zufällige Ergebnisse, die den Echtgeldspielen entsprechen. Sie
    bieten alle Features des Echtgeldspiels, einschließlich
    Bonusfunktionen, Freispiele und spezielle Symbole. Zudem variieren Demo-Versionen je nach Spieltyp, etwa zwischen klassischen Tischspielen, Video Poker oder Live-Casino-Varianten, wobei letztere oft eingeschränkte Interaktionsmöglichkeiten bieten.
    Außerdem spielen Sie zuerst um echtes Geld,
    dann um Bonusgeld, und sobald das Bonusgeld verloren geht,
    geht auch der Bonus verloren. Der Basis-Ersteinzahlungsbonus beträgt 100% bis zu 300 €
    + 50 Freispiele. Benutzer, die zuvor eine Echtgeldeinzahlung auf ihr Jokery-Konto getätigt haben oder den Sportbonus für die erste Einzahlung in Anspruch
    genommen haben, sind nicht berechtigt, diese Aktion zu erhalten.
    Es geht in erster Linie darum, die bestmögliche Lösung für euer Nutzungsverhalten zu finden. Viele Online Casinos bieten euch hierzu
    den direkten Einstieg ohne Registrierung an. Es muss lediglich geschaut
    werden, ob und wie ihr zwischen Echtgeld- und Spielgeldmodus
    wechseln könnt. Etwas weiter gedacht, sind Demo Casino Spiele
    auch für Nutzer von Echtgeld interessant.

    References:
    https://online-spielhallen.de/starda-casino-auszahlung-ihr-umfassender-leitfaden/

  2. Nestled in the heart of Barangaroo, Crown Sydney redefines luxury with its
    breathtaking skyline, world-class gaming floor, and refined experiences across dining,
    hospitality, and wellness. These concepts mostly centred around
    a 213 metres (699 feet) tall hotel tower built on a pier extended 150 metres
    (490 feet) into the harbour. Hilton Hotel Sydney
    is located in Sydney CBD (Central Business District) and
    features the city’s largest hotel health club and fine
    dining at its famous brasserie. Designed to delight every palate, the array of culinary experiences includes
    Crown’s spectacular, signature fine dining venues led by some of the most esteemed chefs in the world.
    The start of gambling operations at Crown Barangaroo comes despite independent inquiries in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia last
    year declaring Crown unfit to hold any of its casino licences in Australia.

    The parking facilities are well-maintained and secure, ensuring a hassle-free experience for guests arriving by car.
    There’s ample parking available onsite, including both valet and
    self-parking options. Overall, Crown Sydney impresses with its offerings and I recommend it for players seeking
    a fun and upscale gaming destination. Don’t worry if you’re not into
    alcohol – they’ve got non-alcoholic options like Virgin Mojito and Virgin Bloody Mary to keep you refreshed.
    If you’re into liqueurs, they’ve got Kahlúa and Baileys too – talk about options!
    They even make pesto right at your table – how cool is that?

    References:
    https://blackcoin.co/winspirit-bonus-code-a-comprehensive-gaming-guide-to-casino-bonuses-in-australia/

  3. Australian players aged 18+ can register and play without legal concerns.
    The casino complies with international gambling regulations and implements
    responsible gaming measures. Yes, Lucky Green operates legally under
    a Curacao eGaming license and accepts Australian players.
    Customer support operates 24/7 through live chat, responding within minutes.
    The mobile platform requires no downloads and performs flawlessly on iOS and Android devices.
    The welcome bonus package reaches $7,500 across three deposits with 150 free spins included.

    To claim this, all you need to do is make a minimum deposit of
    25 AUD, and you’ll receive a generous bonus on top
    of it. On top of that, there’s a cashback system and regular tournaments for
    Australian players. Instant withdrawals and deposits with processing times under 24 hours
    Multilingual customer support via live chat, email, and phone in 1 languages
    Discover what makes us the preferred choice for thousands of players worldwide.
    “The live dealers are professional and the mobile app works perfectly on my phone.”
    You can find over 100 table games that are software-based, provided by top-tier
    providers like NetEnt, Evoplay, and more. You can enjoy classic games like
    roulette, blackjack, dragon tiger, and baccarat, as well as some
    less popular options like Oracle 360. Also, you can see how many players are playing each game, so you can jump in. Here at Lucky Green Casino, to get your hands on these bonuses,
    you’ll either need to contact customer support or have a special
    bonus code provided to you. When you make your first deposit at Lucky Green Casino, you get a 150% bonus of up to 1000 AUD plus 25 free spins in the popular
    pokie game Wolf Gold. With its clean layout and easy-to-use interface, it’s
    quick to navigate and offers a wide range of games.

    References:
    https://blackcoin.co/bay-101-casino-in-depth-review/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *