DEM DEMAND FOR CR: ROBUST DISASTER AID Lawmakers only have nine working days left to figure out government funding before the shutdown deadline, and Speaker Mike Johnson will almost certainly need House Democratic votes to pass it. Congress is likely to pass a stopgap government funding measure before Dec. 20, likely to fund the government until March of next year at its current levels. But considering Johnson’s razor-thin margin and a notable conservative faction of his conference that doesn’t generally support stopgap spending bills, known as continuing resolutions, House Democrats will likely be the ones to get the legislation over the finish line. Typically, punting a funding deadline into a new year when Republicans will control every lever of power would make Democrats shudder. But they’re not putting up much of a fight this time around. While leadership negotiations are ongoing at this point, Democrats have made clear that they have one main demand for the stopgap: a robust supplemental package to address disaster aid. They also want to ensure that there are no cuts or partisan riders included in the stopgap measure. The White House requested nearly $100 billion to aid in recovery from several natural disasters across the country, including hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Maui wildfires and tornadoes in the Midwest. To be clear: Democrats are not going to provoke a shutdown over the supplemental package and prevent Congress from going home for the holidays. If the continuing resolution is “clean,” as lawmakers put it, they’re going to work to keep the government open. But they are trying to negotiate for as much funding as they can to get to the number requested by the White House, making clear it’s a priority that the funds reach the states impacted the most by natural disasters. Expect some last-minute dustups if this number comes in too low. And Republican appropriators have hinted that the supplemental funding total could be much less than what the White House requested. When asked for details on where negotiations stood on Monday, appropriators on both sides said they weren’t willing to share the topline number — a signal of potential trouble ahead. Some news: Two key pieces of legislation — the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, which funds the bulk of the nation’s work training programs, and the Older Americans Act, which funds a range of services for seniors — could ride on the continuing resolution. Both have sign off from the top four committee leaders, a person familiar with the negotiations told POLITICO. Either way, don’t expect text until the weekend: As Jennifer Scholtes and Katherine Tully-McManus reported in Friday’s edition, the soft deadline for releasing bill text is typically the Sunday prior to the shutdown cliff — Dec. 15 in this case. And a reminder: The less time lawmakers have to review legislation, the greater its chances of passing the chambers quickly. — Daniella Diaz, with assist from Jennifer Scholtes and Katherine Tully-McManus GOOD EVENING! Welcome to Inside Congress, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Monday, Dec. 9, where we’re OK with a few days of rain, because it sure beats last week, running around reporting with the possibility of turning into a human-sized icicle. HERN’S MARGIN PLAY Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) announced Monday he would not run for governor of Oklahoma in 2026 — and he cited the razor-thin House majority as a factor in his decision. “The slim majority will last beyond President Trump’s first 100 days in office,” Hern wrote in a letter posted to X. “Put simply, one member of the House could obstruct President Trump’s agenda, and I will not let that be me.” Factoring in absences for posts in the administration, Republicans will open the new Congress with months of a 217-215 advantage in the House, where any one defector could sink a bill presuming united Democratic opposition. That gives every rank-and-file member enormous influence. Hern’s been a member of the House since winning a special election in 2018 and has been steadily climbing the leadership ranks. He’s the current head of the influential Republican Study Committee and just won a leadership post as Republican policy chair. Oklahoma’s governor seat will be open in 2026 and there’s expected to be a crowded Republican primary field in this ruby red terrain. — Anthony Adragna STANSBURY ENTERS NATURAL RESOURCES RANKER RACE Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) has officially launched her bid to become the top Democrat on the powerful House Natural Resources Committee after quietly weighing whether she should run over the past week. "As we prepare for the 119th Congress, we must meet the moment and be prepared for the attacks that will undoubtedly come, while continuing to work with our colleagues across the aisle to get things done. To do so, we will need leadership who will lead with strength, integrity, grit, determination, and heart," Stansbury said in a letter to Democrats. Even though she had not officially entered the race to be the Natural Resources Committee’s top Democrat, Stansbury already had the backing of a fellow colleague from New Mexico, Rep. Gabe Vasquez, who said, “When it comes to the impacts of climate change, she represents a district and a state that I think is feeling the brunt of some of these changes.” Stansbury, who's running against Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), also has the backing of outgoing ranking member Raúl Grijalva from neighboring Arizona. With Stansbury tossing in her hat for the position, the two will face a tough race this week before the Democratic Steering Committee meetings Dec. 16 for this particular panel position. — Daniella Diaz and Josh Siegel TESTER’S SENATE GOODBYE Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) gave a speech on the Senate floor Monday, where he thanked his colleagues for their work and said his goodbyes — closing the upper chamber career of a senator who unsuccessfully fought a tough reelection race. Tester, who lost his race against incoming Sen.-elect Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), said his “greatest accomplishment” was being a farmer while being a senator. “I loved every minute of it,” Tester said on the Senate floor. “I was asked to go on CODELS and almost always declined because I went on a CODEL every weekend back to Montana.” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had warm words for Tester, telling stories of phone calls from Tester's tractor and the Montanan’s Pearl Jam fandom in a floor speech Monday afternoon. More goodbyes to come: Expect Sen. Tom Carper’s goodbye speech on Tuesday, capping the career of the veteran Delaware Democrat. — Daniella Diaz
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