Senate Republicans and Democrats reached an agreement on a stopgap spending bill on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, that would keep the government open through November 17 and includes around $6 billion in new aid to Ukraine and roughly $6 billion in disaster funding.
The deal was reached after weeks of negotiations between the two parties. It includes some concessions from both sides, with Democrats agreeing to provide some funding for Republican priorities like border security and Republicans agreeing to provide funding for Ukraine and disaster relief.
The Senate spending deal is a positive development, but it is still unclear whether it will pass the House of Representatives. If it does not pass, the government will shut down on September 30, 2023.
The outcome of the spending bill could have implications for the upcoming midterm elections. If Democrats are able to get the bill passed through the House, it could help them to maintain control of the House. However, if the bill fails to pass, it could hurt Democrats’ chances of keeping the House.
The spending bill is also likely to be a major issue in the Senate race in Pennsylvania. Incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey is retiring, and the Democratic nominee, John Fetterman, has made funding for Ukraine a priority in his campaign.
The deal is likely to pass the Senate, but it is unclear whether it will pass the House of Representatives. House Republicans are divided on whether to support the bill, with some far-right Republicans saying they will not support any spending bill that does not meet their demands.
Quote from a Democratic senator
“This deal is a good compromise for both parties,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “It keeps the government running, provides much-needed aid to Ukraine and disaster victims, and makes progress on key priorities like border security.”
Quote from a Republican senator:
“I’m not happy with everything in this deal, but it’s the best we could do under the circumstances,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. “It’s important to keep the government running, and this deal does that.”
Quote from a House Republican:
“I’m not going to vote for this bill,” said Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene. “It’s too much spending, and it doesn’t include enough funding for border security.”
Quote from a House Democrat:
“This deal is essential to keeping the government running and providing aid to Ukraine and disaster victims,” said Representative Nancy Pelosi. “I urge all House members to support it.”
Implications for the upcoming midterm elections:
The outcome of the spending bill could have implications for the upcoming midterm elections. If Democrats are able to get the bill passed through the House, it could help them to maintain control of the House. However, if the bill fails to pass, it could hurt Democrats’ chances of keeping the House.
READ MORE: House Republicans are in turmoil over spending plan, raising risk of government shutdown
Conclusion:
The Senate spending deal is a positive development, but it is still unclear whether it will pass the House of Representatives. If it does not pass, the government will shut down on September 30, 2023. The outcome of the spending bill could also have implications for the upcoming midterm elections.
Final update:
As of Wednesday, September 27, 2023, it is still unclear whether the House of Representatives will pass the spending bill. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said he wants to pass a clean spending bill that does not include any additional aid to Ukraine. However, it is unclear whether he will be able to get enough support from his own party to pass such a bill.
If the House fails to pass the spending bill by September 30, the government will shut down. This would be the first government shutdown since 2018.