The White House has issued a trio of veto threats against the first set of spending bills the House is scheduled to vote on, dismissing each proposal as “partisan bills” introduced by Republicans.
The White House published statements of administrative policy on Monday, addressing House spending bills for the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and Department of State.
“Instead of honoring their agreement and taking the opportunity to engage in a productive, bipartisan appropriations process to build on last year’s bills, House Republicans are again wasting time on partisan bills that would result in cuts deep in law enforcement, education, housing, health. , consumer safety, energy programs that reduce utility bills and combat climate change, and essential nutrition services,” the White House said.
The administration argued that the proposals also included “numerous partisan political provisions with devastating consequences” for reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, climate change initiatives and diversity efforts.
The administration has said President Biden would veto the bills if they reach his desk, an unlikely scenario given that House legislation would also need to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate.
House lawmakers will consider the government’s three funding bills this week as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) looks to meet his strict timeline for the appropriations process.
The bills will be presented to the House Rules Committee on Tuesday afternoon. More than 230 amendments have been introduced to the Homeland Security bill, several of which focus on the border; more than 210 amendments were submitted to the State/Foreign Operations measure, some focusing on Ukraine; and nearly 400 changes have been proposed to Pentagon legislation.
The trio of bills advanced out of the appropriations committee despite opposition from Democrats, meaning they are almost certain to languish in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
Top House Republicans, however, are still moving forward with votes, hoping that the approved legislation will put them in a stronger position during negotiations with the Senate in the future.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
