The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- Donna Robert
A bipartisan caucus has introduced a new stopgap spending measure to keep the government open that includes border security provisions, Ukraine funding and disaster money.
The measure comes as lawmakers are scrambling to advance spending measures ahead of the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
Lawmakers from the Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan caucus with about 60 members in the House, introduced the Bipartisan Keep America Open Act on Friday.
The legislation stands in stark contrast from the other stopgap measures that have been proposed by only conservatives in the House, and could garner support from Democrats in the lower chamber who have opposed the GOP-only measures.
For one, the proposal would fund the government at the current fiscal year’s levels, which is a strong departure from other versions that call for funding the government with steeper cuts.
Versions from House leadership and the odd-couple pairing of the moderate Republican Main Street Caucus and arch-conservative House Freedom Caucus have pitched overall spending of $1.471 trillion, respectively.
Another is the timeline for the deal. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pitched a stopgap measure that would last for 30 days. The Problem Solvers’ version would last until Jan. 11, 2024.
The legislation was introduced by top members of the caucus, including GOP Reps. Don Bacon or Nebraska and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, and Democratic Reps. Ed Case of Hawaii and Jared Golden of Maine.
The measure would also include President Biden’s emergency supplemental request for Ukraine and disaster funding, the former of which has been a non-starter for some conservative lawmakers.
The Problem Solvers stopgap measure also includes some border measures, but not as stringent as provisions in the House’s marquee border bill, the Secure the Border Act — that legislation is present in the other two stopgap measures.
