A House vote planned for Tuesday night on a stopgap spending bill aimed at keeping the federal government funded until March is on a snow delay until Wednesday, narrowing the time needed to pass before a potential partial government shutdown that could start this weekend.
"Members are advised that due to inclement weather conditions, votes are no longer expected in the House," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer's office announced Tuesday, according to Axios.
However, the Senate will continue with its procedural votes on the bill Tuesday night, a leadership aide said.
The delay will force lawmakers to work on a shorter schedule to keep federal agencies open, with time running out for an agreement Jan. 19.
The first House votes this week are expected to start at around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, a whip notice sent out to lawmakers said, but members will still debate on several bills Tuesday afternoon.
This will include a procedural vote about referring Hunter Biden for contempt of Congress charges sought after he refused to participate in a deposition in the impeachment inquiry of his father, President Joe Biden.
Thousands of flights were canceled because of the winter storm, leaving it difficult for lawmakers to attend the votes. Multiple Senate staffers said they also expect a high absentee rate Tuesday night because of flight disruptions.
Meanwhile, some members will be out this week for other reasons, leaving Republicans with an even narrower margin to spare.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has been working remotely this month while he is recovering from cancer, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said Sunday in a call with colleagues that Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., will be out this week while recovering from a car crash.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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