New year, different speaker, same problems. Almost immediately upon its return to the Capitol, the House GOP majority descended into chaos and dysfunction.
What went wrong this time? Last weekend, with deadlines to fund the government once again rapidly approaching, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reached a deal to avoid a mindless shutdown.
Essentially, they agreed to let appropriators write FY2024 funding bills based on—surprise!—the levels set during negotiations to raise the debt ceiling that culminated in the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act, enacted in June.
Then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy reneged on the deal and directed House GOP appropriators to waste months writing bills that provided FAR LESS than the agreed-upon amounts. The results were so extreme—like the bill calling for an 80 percent cut in Title I—the House GOP majority could not bring them forward for votes.
Fast forward to last week. Extreme MAGA right-wingers threw a parliamentary tantrum and blocked the GOP majority from taking up conservative bills it supports. They also are trying to get Speaker Johnson to renege on the most recent agreement, which would likely lead to a government shutdown.
Meanwhile, Leader Schumer had already teed up a Senate vote, expected early this week, on extending current funding a bit longer to give appropriators time to craft bills.
Due to years of budget caps and cuts, education is already seriously underfunded. The annual appropriation for ongoing programs is $13.6 billion less than it was a dozen years ago (after adjusting for inflation).
To reverse this tragic trajectory, we must convince lawmakers to increase funding for high-poverty schools through Title I, in children with disabilities through IDEA, and in full-service community schools. Negotiations over a potential package that pairs business tax breaks with an enhanced Child Tax Credit—an NEA priority to reduce child poverty—also are underway, with lawmakers frenetically striving to enact it in time for 2023 tax filings.
Make your voice heard!
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
JEER: Reps. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Kevin Kiley (R-CA) sent a letter asking President Biden not to re-nominate Julie Su to head the U.S. Department of Labor.
