Virginia lawmakers divided on House GOP plan to avoid a government shutdown

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Republicans are throwing their support behind a continuing resolution to keep the government open. 

“We’ve got a lot of folks that need to be taken care of, obviously our veterans, our military, our folks on the border and all sorts of other infrastructure. We got to keep that going,” Republican Congressman John McGuire (VA-05)  told 8News. 

Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) says the bill -- which the Associated Press says included a $6 billion increase in defense funding offset by a $13 billion decrease in non-defense funding -- doesn't cut key programs. 

“It's exactly replicating last year’s bill, so there are no cuts in many ways that others have alleged to things like Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security,” Wittman explained. 

However, Democrats like Democratic Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) say the concurrent resolution does cut some programs Virginians rely on even if it’s not Medicaid or Social Security.

“There are cuts to specific healthcare programs like the program for veterans that allows them to get treatment if they have been exposed to burn pits or Agent Orange,” McClellan told 8News. 

Plus, McClellan argues the bill gives President Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power to spend the money however they want.

“Normally, when we pass congressional funding bills, we say 'this is how much money is appropriated to this agency for these programs' and that’s not in this continuing resolution,” said McClellan.

However, Wittman says that’s not true because the bill simply carries over funding levels from last year’s appropriations bills already approved by Congress.

“I would argue the directives are already there. The things that the executive branch has to do are already embedded in this based on last year’s appropriations bills,” Wittman said. 

Any funding bill would also need to pass the Senate with at least 60 votes. Both of Virginia’s U.S. Senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have implied they oppose the current House funding plan.