Our AI writing assistant, WriteUp, can assist you in easily writing any text. Click here to experience its capabilities.

House GOP pursuing two-step plan to avert government shutdown

View Original View Raw

Summary

House Republicans are pursuing a two-step plan to fund the government and avoid another shutdown, which would have far-reaching economic consequences. The plan does not include deep spending cuts, and has been met with approval from Senate Democrats and criticism from White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. It is unclear if the plan will pass in the House, as it will require a majority or two-thirds vote depending on the strategy, and Republican hardliners are opposed to the bill.

Q&As

What two-step plan is House Republicans pursuing to fund the government?
House Republicans are pursuing a two-step plan to fund the government that would extend funding until January 19 and then until February 2.

Does the two-step plan include deep spending cuts demanded by the right?
No, the two-step plan does not include deep spending cuts demanded by the right.

How have House Democrats responded to the plan?
House Democrats have signaled their openness to the plan and have acknowledged that Johnson avoided spending cuts, which had been their red line.

What are the potential economic consequences of a government shutdown?
Potential economic consequences of a government shutdown include raising the unemployment rate, lowering the growth in gross domestic product, and raising the cost of borrowing.

How many Democrats will need to support the plan in order to pass it in the House?
In order to pass the plan in the House, Johnson will need to get a rule approved to set the parameters for a floor debate, which requires a majority vote. If they can't pass a rule, it would have to pass under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority, meaning a large number of Democrats would be needed to approve the bill.

AI Comments

👍 House Speaker Mike Johnson's two-step plan is a smart approach to avoiding a government shutdown that could have far-reaching economic consequences. It is encouraging to see Democrats and Republicans working together to find a solution that will benefit the country.

👎 House Speaker Mike Johnson's two-step plan is a complicated solution that will only prolong the government shutdown debate and could lead to further economic uncertainty. It is disappointing to see lawmakers unable to come to an agreement that would benefit the country.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the House GOP pursuing a two-step plan to avoid a government shutdown. Basically, they're trying to pass a bill to extend funding until January 19 and another bill to extend funding until February 2. Neither bill includes additional aid for Israel or Ukraine.

Friend: Interesting. What implications would this have?

Me: Well, it could be difficult for Democrats to reject since the funding levels are staying the same. But it's unclear how many Democrats will ultimately support the plan, which could determine the GOP's floor strategy. Also, government shutdowns can have far-reaching economic consequences, like raising the unemployment rate, lowering the growth in GDP, and raising the cost of borrowing.

Action items

Reach out to your representatives in Congress to express your opinion on the two-step plan proposed by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Research the economic consequences of government shutdowns and share your findings with your representatives.
Educate yourself on the potential impacts of the two-step plan and share your insights with your friends and family.

Technical terms

Government Shutdown: A government shutdown occurs when Congress and the President fail to pass legislation to fund government operations and agencies. This results in a partial or complete halt of government services.
Continuing Resolution: A continuing resolution is a type of legislation used to fund the government when Congress and the President cannot agree on a budget. It allows the government to continue operating at its current funding levels until a new budget is passed.
Rule: A rule is a set of regulations or procedures that must be followed in order to ensure the orderly conduct of a legislative body. In the House of Representatives, a rule must be passed in order for a bill to be debated and voted on.
Suspension of the Rules: Suspension of the rules is a procedure used in the House of Representatives to pass a bill without debate or a vote. It requires a two-thirds majority of the House to pass.
Contingency Plan: A contingency plan is a plan of action that is put in place in case of an emergency or unexpected event. In the case of a government shutdown, each federal agency has a contingency plan that outlines which of its functions will continue and which will be suspended until the shutdown ends.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a country in a given period of time. A decrease in GDP can be an indicator of economic hardship.