Congressional leaders reach short-term spending deal to keep government open until March
NBCJAN 2024
US Congressional Leaders Present Stopgap Bill to Prevent Shutdown
Image copyright: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
With a deadline looming, this agreement represents a reasonable compromise from both sides and should be met with little controversy — even if a stubborn section of conservative GOP members will stomp their feet and complain about any deal that doesn't align 100% with their hardline agenda. Johnson must withstand the pressure for the sake of the bipartisan majority.
Republican narrative
Although the House GOP isn’t united on everything, one matter it can coalesce around is the Biden administration’s failed border security policies. So Johnson has successfully negotiated spending cuts into this bill, but he still must get more concessions from the Democrats in order to satisfy the right flank of the party.