House Defeats Trump-Backed Government Funding Bill

One day after President-elect Donald Trump shot down a stopgap government funding bill, the House defeated a Trump-backed bill written by Republicans to keep the government running until March 14. The GOP bill included $31 billion to buffer the impact in rural America of natural disasters and lower farm income.

Without congressional approval of a funding bill, the government will run out of money on Friday night. The Republican bill failed, 235-174. Voting against it were 38 Republicans and 197 Democrats. Voting for it were 172 Republicans and 2 Democrats.

Earlier in the day, farm groups said agricultural aid was imperative. “We must stress that any new or revised CR [continuing resolution] must continue to include an extension of the 2018 farm bill, along with robust disaster and economic assistance that helps farmers across the country facing devastating natural disasters and a worsening farm economy,” said the National Farmers Union. It also called for approval of year-round sales of E15.

Opposition by Trump doomed the original continuing resolution. On Thursday, he said the slimmed-down GOP bill was “a very good deal” that would “keep the government open, fund our great farmers, and provide relief for those severely impacted by the devastating hurricanes.”