The Archive

News: The House passed the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill, 225-201. One member voted “present.”

Nine Republicans joined with all but one Democrat to send the package to President Joe Biden for his signature. The GOP lawmakers voting yes were: Reps. Fred Upton (Mich.), John Katko (N.Y.), Chris Jacobs (N.Y.), Liz Cheney (Wyo.), Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Steve Womack (Ark.), Rodney Davis (Ill.), Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.) and Adam Kinzinger (Ill.). Seven of these nine “yes” votes are members who won’t be in Congress next year. Womack is a senior member of the Appropriations Committee and Fitzpatrick is one of the few moderates remaining in the House GOP.

One Democrat voted no – New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) voted present.

The federal government is now funded through Sept. 30, 2023, delaying one inflection point for the new Republican House majority.

Attendance was extremely sparse in the chamber just two days before Christmas. A majority of House members took advantage of proxy voting and cast their votes remotely. Members who were in attendance cast as many as 10 proxy votes for colleagues, the maximum allowed under House rules.

The omnibus funding package is likely the last vote lawmakers will be allowed to vote by proxy. House Republicans have vowed to do away with the pandemic-era practice when they take the majority.

The opening day of the 118th Congress is Jan. 3. Members will pick the next speaker at that time. You will hear more from us before that.

Happy holidays to all!

– Jake Sherman and John Bresnahan