#continuing-resolution

#continuing-resolution

Democrats have held out for weeks, demanding that Republicans work with them to extend expiring ACA tax credits in exchange for funding the government. Prolonged shutdown pain ultimately won out, with moderate Democrats accepting a promise of an ACA vote despite progressives and House Democrats adamantly warning against accepting a handshake deal. Driving the news: The final tally on the procedural vote was 60-40. Eight Democrats voted "yes" with Republicans, while Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was the lone GOP "no" vote.

What to watch: Senate appropriators are hustling to finish language on a three-part appropriations package, with text expected to be released as soon as Thursday evening, sources tell Axios. It's a key part of Republicans' latest offer to Democrats, which includes: Passing a stopgap funding continuing resolution until at least December 19th (final date TBD). Fully funding military construction, Veterans Affairs, the Agriculture Department and the legislative branch through the next fiscal year - taking programs like WIC and SNAP out of the shutdown equation. A promise of a vote on some kind of bill to extend the expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies - the exact substance of which is still a major question mark.

I realize Congress is not in session, but it's been more than 3 weeks, and all the representatives in the House are being paid right now. Why can't you see her? Quick asked. Well, not all the members of the house are being paid, Johnson said. Well, some of them have chosen not to take a paycheck, they are all under law allowed to receive a paycheck, Quick shot back. She noted that Arizona's attorney general has threatened to sue Johnson for taxation without representation over his failure to swear in the state's full delegation.

Somebody's got to do something about it. Someone has to take a stand. And there needs to be a conservative wing of the Republican party, and sometimes I'm it. Right now I am it, said Paul. I'm opposed to deficit spending. I proposed an alternative, the penny plan, which would balance over five years. And I will vote for that.

Only two Republicans, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) voted against the bill. Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) was the lone Democratic supporter. The intrigue: Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), all who often oppose short-term funding bills, were among those who got the gesture. "Some of the more high-profile folks really do need protection," Burchett told Axios on Friday.

WASHINGTON - Congressional defense hawks in the Senate are once again pushing to boost the topline of the defense budget in fiscal 2026, but as lawmakers return to Capitol Hill in September, they will have to face an even more pressing question: Will they be able to pass a full-year spending bill at all? Congress failed at passing FY25 appropriations after talks between Republicans and Democrats broke down, resulting in the approval of a full year continuing resolution in March. The bill marked the first time the Defense Department will have been funded under a CR for an entire year.