House approves first government funding bill since electing new speaker

One day after electing Louisiana GOP Rep. Mike Johnson as the new Speaker of the House, the lower chamber of Congress approved the first of a series of government funding bills, advancing legislation on energy and water issues.

The chamber approved the plan in a 210-199 vote, with only Colorado GOP Rep. Ken Buck breaking Republican ranks to oppose it, according to The Hill. The bill cuts more than $5 billion in spending, though Buck had sought to keep the bill's funding at 2019 levels.

Thursday's bill would fund the Department of Energy while slashing climate and renewable energy projects and rescinding Biden administration water regulations.

Congress in late September approved a continuing resolution to avert a shutdown and fund the government for 45 days while it worked out longer-term spending plans. Then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy subsequently lost his position after months of disputes with conservative budget hawks.

Johnson hopes to advance separate funding bills for the myriad government offices rather than a single omnibus package. Thursday's measure is the latest of 12 appropriations bills that will collectively set spending levels for the upcoming year. The GOP had already passed four prior to Thursday.

President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the energy appropriations bill and the House GOP's spending targets are likely to set up tense negotiations with the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.