House GOP leadership faces challenges in quelling conservative opposition to a continuing resolution as shutdown nears.
House Leadership Struggles to Pass Funding Bills as Shutdown Looms
With the House in chaos and a government shutdown on the horizon, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and his allies are desperately trying to win over opponents of a stopgap funding measure. However, time is running out.
Strong Opposition Threatens House Republican Conference
House leadership finds itself in a bind as there is still significant opposition to a continuing resolution within the House Republican Conference. At least nine members have declared their refusal to vote for a continuing resolution, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown.
“I don’t understand the few people here who want to hold it out. Why do the border agents have to hurt? Why do the Coast Guard have to hurt? Why do they have to not be paid because somebody wants to throw some fit here,” McCarthy said. “That’s not right.”
According to Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), one of McCarthy’s top lieutenants, some members with “perverted intentions” have caused significant problems for House leadership this year.
Despite including conservative policies such as border security measures and a top-line spending level of $1.471 trillion, opposition to passing a measure to keep the government open persists.
Congress is rapidly running out of time, with the government set to run out of money on Oct. 1. While conservative Republicans continue to prioritize their own agenda, they must also find a way to collaborate with the Democratic Senate to pass a mutually agreeable solution.
“We were always going to have a fight about federal government funding,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC). “That was always going to be the case. Before the speaker vote, I could have told you this was the breakpoint.”
While some members, like Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), believe a government shutdown is a viable option, others, such as Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), oppose continuing resolutions altogether and advocate for passing all 12 appropriations bills.
However, given the imminent shutdown on Oct. 1, it is impossible for Congress to pass all 12 spending bills within the limited timeframe. Therefore, the options are either a shutdown or a continuing resolution.
“Anyone who says that we’re going to finish all 12 appropriations bills between now and next Saturday is absolutely hallucinating,” Graves told reporters.
In an attempt to sway the holdouts, House leadership has included four appropriations bills in a rules package to be voted on next Tuesday. Two of these bills significantly reduce spending, offering hope that they may win over some of the opposition.
However, this could have been accomplished much earlier if certain hard-line conservatives had not blocked or threatened to block spending bills in the past.
For instance, some holdouts prevented the House from voting on the defense appropriations bill twice, and in July, they threatened to block the agriculture appropriation bill from reaching the floor. This forced leadership to postpone the vote until September.
“We’re in a situation right now where the arsonists are out there, number one whining that their house is on fire; number two are going to want credit that they put the fire out; and then number three are going to set up a GoFundMe site to get paid for it,” Graves said about those blocking bills.
If a shutdown or a clean continuing resolution occurs, McCarthy and Graves emphasize that it will be due to a few members of the conference choosing the “liberal option” by blocking spending bills and opposing a conservative continuing resolution.
“I think that if we get into a shutdown, it’s because there was a failure in strategy that was absolutely manipulated or distorted by disingenuous behavior, intentions, and probably ignorance,” Graves said.
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What is the impact of conservative Republicans sticking to their own agenda in finding a mutually agreeable solution and how does this affect the well-being of the country
Comprehensive budget in time. A continuing resolution, which allows the government to continue operating at current funding levels, is the most feasible solution at this point. Yet, even this temporary measure is facing strong opposition within the House Republican Conference.
The main point of contention seems to be the disagreement over including border security measures in the funding bill. While some Republicans believe that funding for border security is crucial and must be included, others argue that it should be left for separate legislation. This disagreement has led to a stalemate and threatens to result in a government shutdown.
The House leadership, led by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, is now faced with the daunting task of convincing opponents within their own party to vote in favor of the continuing resolution. McCarthy has expressed his frustration with those who are willing to let government agencies and employees suffer the consequences of a shutdown in order to push their own agenda.
The situation has become so dire that even top lieutenants within the House leadership, like Rep. Garret Graves, have criticized some members for their “perverted intentions” that have hindered progress in the past.
With time running out, it is crucial for Republicans to find common ground with their Democratic colleagues in the Senate to avoid a government shutdown. Both sides must be willing to compromise and prioritize the functioning of the government over their own political interests.
However, it seems that conservative Republicans are determined to stick to their own agenda, making it increasingly difficult to find a mutually agreeable solution. The fight over federal government funding was inevitable, but it is disappointing to see it becoming a breaking point within the party.
While the opposing views on how to approach funding bills are understandable, it is imperative to put the well-being of the country and its citizens first. Government agencies, border agents, and the Coast Guard should not have to suffer because of political disagreements.
In conclusion, the House leadership is facing significant opposition within their own party as they struggle to pass funding bills and avoid a government shutdown. It is crucial for Republicans to find a way to collaborate with Democrats and prioritize the functioning of the government. The clock is ticking, and it is time for all members of Congress to put aside their differences and work towards a solution that benefits the American people.
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