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On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, announced his plan to introduce an alternative spending proposal if Democrats support a House-approved continuing resolution. Thune’s substitute measure aims to extend government funding beyond the immediate expiration date and incorporate three comprehensive appropriations bills, often referred to as a minibus.
Addressing reporters, Thune indicated that the Senate is scheduled to cast a vote on Sunday afternoon regarding a proposal designed to reopen the government. This decision follows a pause in voting activities on Saturday afternoon.
The specifics of the proposed legislation are anticipated to be made public early Sunday afternoon. This legislative package is expected to encompass regular appropriations bills dedicated to military construction, veterans affairs, the Department of Agriculture, and the legislative branch. These have already been coordinated with House appropriators and will include a stopgap measure intended to sustain the rest of the federal government’s operations until late January.
Thune revealed his intention to replace the House-approved continuing resolution—a straightforward bill that extends funding through November 21—with this new proposal. An aide from the Senate GOP humorously coined this combined measure the “Criminibus.”
Thune said he will move to replace the House-passed continuing resolution, a “clean” bill that funds government through Nov. 21, with the combined continuing resolution and minibus, which one Senate GOP aide dubbed the “Criminibus.”
Republican senators gathered in the Mansfield Room on Sunday to munch on pizzas from Andy’s Pizza and leftover Halloween candy to discuss their next steps.