Fiscal conservatives in the House can already see it coming and they're doing their best to guard against it — the end-of-year spending spree to fund the government, The Hill reported.
Republican lawmakers want to avoid a government shutdown, and Democrats, knowing their votes will be needed, are taking full advantage by appending their Christmas wish list in with everything else, The Hill reports.
"Loading up the Christmas tree right before the end of the year is never good," House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Dave Brat told The Hill. “Push it off to next year, there’s too much in flux right now."
Democrats are seeking protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, as well as dollar-for-dollar spending increases on non-Defense spending, The Hill reports.
At stake is sequestration kicking in, meaning automatic spending cuts to the Pentagon and domestic programs if lawmakers don't pass a budget, which they'd like to get done before Christmas break begins.
"Once people get ready to get out the door, a lot of things become acceptable that wouldn’t in other seasons," South Carolina conservative Rep. Mark Sanford told The Hill.
The end-of-year showdown was set up by President Donald Trump's September deal with Democratic leaders to postpone the budget fight by three months, surprising and angering Republican leadership.
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