U.S. Representative Sharice Davids, a Democrat from Kansas, showed her support for a bipartisan stop-gap funding bill. However, four members of the Kansas delegation opposed this bill. Surprisingly, Kansas GOP Senator Jerry did not cast a vote on the deal. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Davids’ news release)
Two-thirds of the Kansas congressional delegation opposed the bipartisan spending bill signed by President Joe Biden, which aimed to prevent a government shutdown and set the groundwork for the consideration of twelve appropriations bills by both the U.S. House and Senate.
Democratic U.S. Representative Sharice Davids, who represents the 3rd District, cast her vote in favor of the bill that grants funding to several federal agencies until Friday, and extends funding for others until March 22. The measure was approved by the House with a vote of 320-99, though it did not receive endorsements from Republican U.S. Representatives Tracey Mann of the 1st District, Jake LaTurner of the 2nd District, and Ron Estes of the 4th District.
The U.S. Senate approved the bill with a vote of 77-13, with Republican U.S. Senator Roger Marshall voting against it. Republican U.S. Senator Jerry Moran did not cast a vote.
Congress has once again approved extensions to prevent a government lockdown, marking the fourth time since the end of the federal fiscal year in September 2023. The recent agreement establishes a deadline for votes on six appropriations bills, with the requirement to address the remaining six by March 22. It is crucial that all twelve bills adhere to the bipartisan spending limits that were agreed upon in January 2024 and June 2023.
Representing a district centered on Johnson County, Davids emphasized the responsibility of federal lawmakers to collaborate on legislation that ensures the long-term operation of the government.
“This bipartisan legislation prevents a costly government shutdown that would have severe consequences for Kansas families, small business owners, and our entire economy,” expressed Davids. “I firmly believe that bipartisanship is the way forward, and I am dedicated to collaborating with anyone to protect the jobs, health, and financial security of Kansans.”
Marshall criticized the short-term spending bill, stating that it was an abuse of the budgeting system and failed to address the ongoing national debt crisis. In response, he introduced a Senate resolution that aimed to maintain funding at the levels of the previous year until September 30, 2024. This resolution would have required approximately $70 billion in cuts, according to Marshall.
“The irresponsible budgeting tactics in Washington have resulted in a burden of crippling debt that will be passed on to future generations,” he argued. “This highlights how out of touch Washington, D.C. is with the struggles of hard-working Americans.”
Before the votes on the stop-gap bill last week, Estes teamed up with a group of House Republicans who advocated for a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. According to Estes, this amendment would require a 10-year transition period after being ratified by the states and would allow for deficits during times of emergency.
According to the speaker, the United States government is borrowing $90,000 every second as its debt surpasses $34 trillion.
“These numbers are not exaggerated talking points,” Estes emphasized. “They represent undisputed facts that pose a significant threat to the health and safety of our nation. Over the past three decades, our debt has skyrocketed by more than 600%.”
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