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Evening Report

Thursday, January 18

Congress facing compressed government funding timeline

The Senate on Thursday voted 77-18 to pass a continuing resolution (CR) extending funding for different parts of the government to March 1 and March 8. The vote came one day before some government funding is set to expire.

The temporary funding measure now heads to the House, which will race to wrap it up today as Friday votes were cancelled due to snow in the forecast for Washington, D.C.

The House Freedom Caucus, unhappy with the plan to advance another temporary funding measure at current levels, made a last-minute effort to convince Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to add a border and migration policy amendment to the CR in the lower chamber.

Johnson has been pushing for conservative border policies to be incorporated in a separate package, including funding for Ukraine, Israel and more.

But the Speaker doesn't appear keen on tying the issue to the CR. A spokesperson posted on X, formerly Twitter, Thursday afternoon: "The plan has not changed. The House is voting on the stop gap measure tonight to keep the government open."

Adding an amendment to the CR would be a whole thing, The Hill's Emily Brooks and Mychael Schnell explain:

"Currently, the expectation is that Johnson will bring the bill up under a fast-track suspension of the rules process, which requires two-thirds of the House for passage and does not allow for amendments. To change that and make an amendment vote in order, House Republicans would have to schedule a last-minute House Rules Committee meeting, and likely use up much more floor time."

About that weather:

As of Thursday afternoon, the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for the D.C. area in effect from 4 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday forecasting "snow accumulations of 1 to 3 [inches] with localized amounts upwards of 4 inches in the northern and western suburbs of [D.C.]."

From the advisory: "The hazardous conditions will impact the Friday morning and evening commute."

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No Labels, the group working to create a presidential ballot line for a potential "unity ticket" in November, filed a complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleging organizations have engaged in a conspiracy against its ballot access efforts.

Dan Webb, a lawyer and volunteer with No Labels, said Thursday, "There is a group of activists and operatives and party officials who have participated in alleged illegal conspiracy to use intimidation, harassment and fear against representatives of No Labels, its donors and its potential candidates."

No Labels qualified for 14 state ballots so far and is aiming for at least 13 more. Read more here.

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