• CongressionIt al leaders announced a bipartisan government funding measure.
• It includes a revision of federal election rules.
• It will prevent another Jan. 6-style attack and stifle future election theft.

Congressional leaders announced a bipartisan government funding measure early Tuesday that includes a revision of federal election rules to prevent another Jan. 6-style attack and stifle future election theft.

They expect to pass the package soon to avoid a government shutdown this weekend.

The proposal comes a day after the House’s Jan. 6 committee had its final public meeting, issuing criminal referrals for former President Donald Trump and charging he launched “a multi-part plot to overturn the results and impede the transition of power” The bill’s provisions, unlike the panel’s, would be law.

The $1.7 trillion spending deal runs until September. It includes U.S. aid to Ukraine as it faces Russia in the continuing war.

Senate will vote first, then send the bill to House. It could be the last significant item before Republicans take control of the House on Jan. 3.

Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who is courting anti-spending conservatives to become speaker next year, has pushed to torpedo the deal and postpone the problem until Republicans win power. He persuaded GOP lawmakers to vote against it, forcing Democrats to pass it in the House. In the Senate, the bill has greater bipartisan support and is projected to pass with 60 votes.

Capitol Hill leaders attached the election law and Ukraine funding to smooth approval, believing they have enough votes.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called the spending bill “the last important item” before the holidays. “It won’t be perfect,” he remarked.

Schumer claimed another interim bill would “leave the country high and dry” and a shutdown would be worse.

The bill’s distribution was delayed by hours due to a dispute between Maryland and Virginia over the FBI’s future headquarters. Immigration provisions, cannabis banking measures, and a child tax credit expansion were not included.

The election legislation linked to the budget deal would remove loopholes Trump and his associates tried to exploit on Jan. 6, 2021, to stay in power despite losing to President Joe Biden.

It would specify that the vice president’s responsibility is to count votes and raise the threshold to object to a state’s electoral votes from one member of the House and Senate to one-fifth of each body. It would also strengthen state election certification regulations to prevent future competing elector slates and smooth the presidential transfer.

Bipartisan Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., announced the proposal in July. 38 senators, 16 Republicans, support it. McConnell said in September that the “chaos on Jan. 6 last year emphasized the need to amend” the 1887 statute. It cleared committee 14-1 this fall with modest amendments, with only Ted Cruz, R-Texas, opposed.

“Good.” Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, called the election overhaul bill “progress” but warned that defending American democracy will take more than a new law.

Schatz: “We need to understand that there’s a well-funded movement that won’t be bothered by a new law.” Even if we adopt the Electoral Count Act, we must remain cautious because these folks were already trying to evade the Constitution and federal law. So they’ll continue.”

The legislation ends Democrats’ reign of trifecta government control with a precise financing package and addresses the must-pass issue until late 2023, preventing early brinkmanship with a GOP-run House.

Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Vice Chair Richard Shelby, R-Ala., are retiring at the end of the year and were pushed to complete the deal.

For Republicans, the bill’s additional military funding is an incentive to pass it quickly. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the GOP persuaded Democrats to drop their demand for “parity” between the two funds.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, called the gap between military and nonmilitary spending “a problem” She said the bill may be preferable to next year’s Republican-controlled House.

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