WASHINGTON — Indiana’s congressional delegation was divided over a temporary measure that keeps government agencies funded into December, avoiding a shutdown for now while punting final spending decisions until after the Nov. 5 election.
Four House Republicans from Indiana — Reps. Jim Baird, Jim Banks, Victoria Sparks and Rudy Yakym — voted against the measure, while other three Republicans — Reps. Larry Bucshon, Erin Houchin and Greg Pence — voted for the measure, according to congressional records.
The two House Democrats representing Indiana — Reps. André Carson and Frank Mrvan — also voted in favor of the measure.
Indiana’s Senate delegation also was split on the measure, with Sen. Mike Braun voting against it and Sen. Todd Young voting in favor of it.
The House passed the bill in a 341-82 vote, and the Senate following suit in 78-18 vote shortly after the House approved it.
The bill generally funds agencies at current levels through Dec. 20, The Associated Press reported. But an additional $231 million was included to bolster the Secret Service after the two assassination attempts against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Money was also added to aid with the presidential transition, among other things.
The bill now goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law.
“This bipartisanship is a good outcome for America,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said moments before the vote. “I hope it sets the tone for more constructive, bipartisan work when we return in the fall.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., billed the measure as doing “only what’s absolutely necessary,” a statement directed at members of his own conference concerned about spending levels.
Still, it was a no-go for some Republicans, which forced House GOP leadership to rely on Democratic votes to pass the bill through a process that requires at least two-thirds support from voting members, according to wire reports. The final vote was 341-82, with Republicans supplying all the no votes in both chambers. Johnson said the only alternative to the continuing resolution at this stage would have been a government shutdown.
“It would be political malpractice to shut the government down,” Johnson said. “I think everyone understands that.”
Lawmakers in both chambers are anxious to return to their home states and districts to campaign, smoothing the path for passage of the temporary funding fix, according to the AP. But more arduous fiscal negotiations await them at the end of the year.
Under terms of a previous deal to avoid a federal default and allow the government to continue paying its bills, spending for defense and nondefense programs would rise 1% next year.
The Senate has been charting a course to go above that level, while House Republicans have been voting for steep cuts to many nondefense programs, and they have attached policy mandates to the spending bills that Democrats overwhelmingly oppose, according to wire reports. So a final agreement will be difficult to reach.
In the meantime, the temporary bill will mostly fund the government at current levels, with a few exceptions like the funding infusion for the Secret Service.
The $231 million for the Secret Service does come with strings attached, according to wire reports. It’s contingent upon the agency complying with congressional oversight. The bill also allows the Secret Service to spend its allocations faster if needed.
Trump thanked lawmakers for the extra Secret Service funding at a campaign event Wednesday. He had earlier called on Republicans not to move forward on a spending bill without also including a requirement that people provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. That legislation failed in the House last week.
