Freedom Caucus opposes short-term continuing resolution without conservative policies.

The House Freedom Caucus⁢ Demands⁢ Conservative Wins in‍ Funding Battle

The House Freedom ‌Caucus has made it clear that they will⁣ not support a stop-gap ‍funding measure without tying‍ it to ⁤conservative ⁢policy victories. This⁤ sets the⁣ stage for a contentious battle when the House reconvenes after its August recess.

Speaker ⁣Kevin‍ McCarthy ‌recently announced⁣ that a short-term continuing resolution will likely be necessary to provide more time for the House and Senate to⁣ pass and negotiate their ⁢12 appropriations⁤ bills. However, this idea did not sit ​well⁤ with the hard-line conservative ⁣members ‍of the Republican conference.

The Freedom Caucus’s Three Demands

• Support for House Republicans’ border security bill, the Secure the Border Act of 2023
• Addressing the alleged weaponization of the ⁢Justice Department and FBI
• Ending what they ‌perceive as “woke policies” ‌in the ​Pentagon

The House has already faced challenges ‍in passing⁤ its appropriations bills, managing to pass only one before the August recess. The agriculture appropriation bill faced opposition from both the Freedom Caucus and centrist⁤ Republicans, resulting in it‍ not being ⁣voted on.

Adding these demands to the funding process is likely⁤ to make‌ it even more difficult, as Senate Democrats are expected to oppose them. This increases the chances of a government‍ shutdown if an agreement cannot be⁤ reached. However, some Republicans do not view a shutdown ⁤as⁣ a ⁣catastrophic outcome.

“I’m pretty open about the fact​ that we​ shouldn’t fear a government shutdown,” ‍said Rep. Bob⁤ Good (R-VA). “And‍ if that’s what’s ⁣necessary ‍to⁣ force spending cuts, then we should utilize that.”

Recognizing the limited time ⁤available to pass the remaining appropriations bills,⁣ the Freedom Caucus acknowledges that a short-term continuing resolution⁣ is likely. However, they want to ensure⁤ that it truly remains⁢ short-term and⁣ that their demands are met.

The caucus also‌ opposes reverting to the old tactic of using short-term funding extensions to push Congress towards passing an omnibus spending bill. Speaker McCarthy has ‌stated that he will not bring such a bill to the floor.

Other House Republicans share the⁤ sentiment of​ needing a short-term extension to get the appropriations bills passed and into law.

“If we need a few weeks, I can probably live with that,” said Rep. Morgan Griffith‌ (R-VA), a member of the Freedom Caucus. “I think we should do two weeks, and if we need to do another week after ⁤that, fine.”

While the‍ Freedom Caucus⁣ expresses openness to supporting a short-term continuing resolution at current funding levels, they remain committed to funding the​ government at the fiscal 2022 topline spending level without using “gimmicks or reallocated rescissions.” They oppose Democrats’‌ bloated COVID-era spending‌ and demand that the Biden Administration follows the law and fulfills its responsibilities.

“Any support for a ‘clean’ Continuing Resolution would be an affirmation ⁢of the current FY 2023‌ spending level grossly increased by the lame-duck December 2022 omnibus⁤ spending bill that ⁤we all vehemently opposed just‍ seven months ago,” stated the Freedom Caucus.

The statement​ also ⁢reiterates the Freedom Caucus’s opposition to ⁤providing a⁣ “blank check” for Ukraine in any supplemental⁢ appropriations bill.⁢ The ⁢Biden ⁤administration’s request for emergency ⁤supplemental‌ funding, including aid to Ukraine, has faced⁣ significant pushback ​from conservatives.

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