Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) plans to support House Speaker Mike Johnson’s stopgap funding bill despite criticism from the White House.
Johnson unveiled what he calls a “two-step continuing resolution” Saturday to avert a government shutdown. The plan involves extending government funding for some agencies and programs until Jan. 19 and continuing funding for others until Feb. 2. It does not include any funding for Israel, Ukraine and the U.S-Mexico border as requested by President Biden.
Phillips, who launched a long-shot primary challenge against President Biden last month, told NBC News that he will take a break from the campaign trail to support the bill in Congress.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s a whole lot better than a shutdown,” he said.
Phillips’ decision breaks with the White House. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre panned Johnson’s bill in a statement on Saturday as “unserious” and “extreme”.
Republicans also criticize Johnson’s stopgap funding bill and several of them already signaled that they will not support the legislation. This means Johnson will need Democratic support to pass his stopgap funding and it is not clear if any House Democrat plans to join Phillips.
Congress passed a 45-day continuing resolution on September 30 to fund the government through November 17. Then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) passed the bill through the House with the help of Democrats, which subsequently led to his ouster.
