The Big Four, consisting of Senators Schumer and McConnell, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are scheduled to meet with President Biden at the White House today to discuss funding and avert a potential government shutdown. The meeting comes amidst concerns over reaching an agreement on the emergency aid package and government funding before the looming deadline on March 8th.
One of the key issues at the center of the negotiations is the supplemental nutrition benefits program for low-income women, infants, and children under the age of five, commonly referred to as WIC. Senate Democrats are pushing for $7 billion for the program, a figure significantly higher than the $6 billion proposed by House Republicans and the $6.3 billion budgetary request put forth by the president.
House Speaker Johnson criticized Senate Democrats for attempting to allocate funds towards priorities that lean further left than what had been agreed upon in their chamber. This disagreement has led to a stalemate, with Republicans threatening to block the State of the Union address unless the president submits a budget.
Congressman Buddy Carter expressed frustration over the delay in receiving President Biden's budget, emphasizing that it was due on February 5th. He argued that until Congress is provided with the president's national security strategy and budget, delivering the State of the Union address would be irresponsible.
The deadline for averting a government shutdown is fast approaching, set for this Friday. The outcome of the meeting at the White House and subsequent negotiations will be crucial in determining whether an agreement can be reached to prevent a partial government shutdown.
