US House votes on spending bill to avert government shutdown

<img src="https://www.reuters.com/resizer/QCmQEKCFEGhkx7v33dUHEiY9O24=/1920x0/filters:quality(80)/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/A77FWQSGOFJPHKJMJJREVISVWA.jpg" alt="U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington">U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) leaves a press conference with U.S. Representatives Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Tom Emmer (R-MN) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 14, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz    <img src="https://www.reuters.com/resizer/Uh7MyVu3e0dhl5cqdCdt2O3OwmM=/1920x0/filters:quality(80)/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/FRGMODXFTFOWNCOQFFKI2ZYY4Y.jpg" alt="U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington">U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 14, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz    <img src="https://www.reuters.com/resizer/n4lTx58jU-W-rzcCyhZ5u5cZCgA=/1920x0/filters:quality(80)/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/3GCUJ7Q33BO23FPPIJ2E4LHLL4.jpg" alt="U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington">U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference as U.S. Representatives Steve Scalise (R-LA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Tom Emmer (R-MN) listen, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 14, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz    <img src="https://www.reuters.com/resizer/HP6evaRvtF0ofFsxS2ZofQqUb6o=/1920x0/filters:quality(80)/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/KBM6WJJXPBKSRPQAG5CCGWJXVQ.jpg" alt="U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington">U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., November 14, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz                   The U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday began voting on a stopgap spending bill that would extend government funding beyond Nov. 17, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-government-shutdown-what-closes-what-stays-open-2023-09-21/
 on the U.S. to "negative" from "stable," as it noted that high interest rates would continue to drive borrowing costs higher.   Johnson had little senior congressional leadership experience before being chosen speaker less than three weeks ago.   With a slim 221-213 majority, he can afford to lose no more than three Republican votes on legislation that Democrats oppose.   "When you have a small majority, it requires some things are going to have to be bipartisan," Johnson said.   Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he hoped the House would pass the bill and send it to his chamber, where he said he was working with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to move it as quickly as possible.   "If this can avoid a shutdown it would be a good thing," he told a press conference.   McConnell also said he supported the bill.   Johnson's bill would extend funding for military construction, veterans benefits, transportation, housing, urban development, agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and energy and water programs through Jan. 19. Funding for all other federal operations - including defense - would expire on Feb. 2.   Johnson's political strategy echoes the approach taken by his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, who relied on Democratic votes to pass a stopgap spending bill on Oct 1. That angered some Republicans, who forced him out of his job a few days later.   Republicans say the new speaker is unlikely to suffer the same fate as McCarthy. But hardliners have been quick to see the parallel.   "Here we are. We're doing the same thing," Representative Chip Roy told reporters.    Reporting by David Morgan and Richard Cowan; Additional reporting by Moira Warburton, Katharine Jackson and Susan Heavey; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, David Gregorio and Lisa Shumaker

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-congress-tries-overcome-partisan-logjam-avert-government-shutdown-2023-11-14/