U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) commended legislation that would fund the federal government through the start of next year. The junior senator hailed new House Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) decision to push the deadline pertaining to a government shutdown past the holidays. This move aims to provide ample time for lawmakers to negotiate a long-term financial package.
Delving into the specifics, we learn that this development is not as sudden as it appears. According to The Associated Press (AP), President Joe Biden signed the temporary spending bill into law on November 16, a mere day before the shutdown was supposed to happen. The AP reported that the president affixed his signature while he was in San Francisco hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The stopgap legislation provides ample time for lawmakers to negotiate a long-term package, according to AP.
Shedding light on another aspect of this legislative development, It additionally creates two separate deadlines for the passage of full-year appropriations bills: Jan. 19 and Feb. 2, the AP reported. According to the AP, Johnson favored the two-step approach while it didn’t receive much support from the U.S. Senate.
Moving forward with an insight into Senator Cruz's viewpoint on this issue, Cruz said in his release he backs what the Speaker wants to do. "Speaker Johnson’s plan lowers the temperature, giving Republicans the opportunity to work together and agree on more responsible appropriations bills as they negotiate with the White House," the senator said. "I think it’s a sound proposal from our new Speaker, so I supported it."