Rep. Tom Cole on Appropriations Progress Amid Government Shutdown

Appropriations Process Update

• 🎯 All 12 appropriation bills were successfully moved out of committee before the September 30th deadline.
• 🤝 Negotiations with Democrats on three of these bills have been progressing well, with readiness to finalize them once the government reopens.
• 🗓️ These finalized bills would provide funding immunity until the following September 30th, after which further groups of bills would be addressed.

Obstacles to Progress

• ⚠️ Progress was stalled by unrelated demands, specifically repealing previously enacted Medicaid work requirements and new discussions on subsidies.
• 🚫 Negotiations are difficult while the government is shut down, as Democrats are unlikely to move bills under such circumstances.
• 🏛️ The speaker and leadership have noted that there is still time to address these other issues even after the government reopens.

Committee Jurisdiction and Expertise

• ✂️ Cole emphasizes that Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies fall outside the jurisdiction and expertise of the Appropriations Committee.
• ✅ The committee's focus is on moving appropriations bills to ensure essential government functions and services continue without interruption.

Path Forward and Responsibility

• 🗣️ Cole highlights that a bipartisan majority of 55 senators are already in agreement, placing the onus on Senate Majority Leader Schumer and his caucus to end the shutdown.
• 🚀 Once the shutdown is resolved, there will be a swift move away from Continuing Resolution (CR) status to passing individual or small groups of bills.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The ultimate goal is to get government employees back to work and restore normal government operations.