WASHINGTON _ Speaker Paul D. Ryan told House Republicans Thursday that Congress would punt a government funding debate into March when President-elect Donald Trump will be in the White House and vote on a short-term continuing resolution in the lame-duck session.
Ryan's announcement of a CR through March 31 comes just three weeks before a Dec. 9 deadline to continue funding for federal agencies and programs. It was made during a closed-door GOP conference meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence.
Pence, a former six-term congressman from Indiana, received multiple standing ovations from the caucus, according to a source in the room. He told members that while his formal role is in the administration, his heart will always be in the House, the source said.
Multiple members said Pence told them to expect to be working more in the 115th Congress.
"He was positive. It was upbeat," Oregon Rep. Greg Walden said. "It's a message that we're going to _ better buckle in because we're going to be putting in long hours and working hard to get America on track."
According to North Carolina Republican Mark Meadows, Pence said, "Advise your families that you need to be prepared for work."
Meadows said there was no discussion of administration appointments during the meeting and that beyond the discussion of appropriations there were no other transitional policies identified for a lame-duck agenda.
Pence discussed some of the priorities of the incoming administration, including repealing and replacing the 2010 health care law, members said.
"I saw more excitement from a variety of members in the conference ... than I've seen in four years," Meadows said.
