McCarthy secures major win, but shutdown threat remains.

House Speaker McCarthy Scores Victory with Passage of Rule for Appropriations Bills

After facing ⁢two failed rule⁢ votes,⁣ House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) achieved a significant ⁣win on Tuesday as the House passed a ⁤rule allowing‍ four appropriations bills to advance to⁣ debate. ⁢However, ​the threat ‌of a government shutdown still looms.

The House can now⁣ proceed with the ⁤defense, homeland, ​state and foreign operations, and‍ agriculture ‍appropriations bills. Yet, passing these bills will be a challenging‌ task due to objections raised by multiple Republican members regarding various‍ provisions.

Struggles​ to Pass Bills and Avoid ⁣Government Shutdown

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) expressed frustration, stating, “I ‍want⁢ to do my job,​ and I think we should have been doing it two ⁤months ago.” She highlighted concerns ⁣about the defense bill being “dead on arrival” and the state ⁣foreign ops bill having a “blank check” for Ukraine.

Even if the​ House manages to pass the bills, the Senate is unlikely to take them up⁣ due to provisions⁣ and spending⁣ cuts. In response, McCarthy stated that the⁤ House will likely consider a conservative continuing resolution on​ Friday, just two days before the potential government shutdown.

The Republicans’ proposed continuing resolution‌ would fund the government at a $1.471 trillion level for a period of 14 to⁢ 60 days.

Resistance Within ⁣the Republican Conference

However, passing a stopgap funding measure,​ even one with Republican priorities like border security provisions, will be challenging due to significant resistance within the Republican Conference.

Several Republican representatives, including Eli‌ Crane (R-AZ), Andy Ogles (R-TN), and Cory Mills (R-FL), ⁤have expressed their opposition to a continuing ‍resolution. Representatives Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Tim Burchett ⁤(R-TN) have ⁤also voiced their objections.

These holdouts alone have the ‌potential to derail any Republican-led continuing resolution if ‌it does not receive Democratic support.

McCarthy’s⁤ Message and the Holdouts

McCarthy has been attempting ​to sway the holdouts by framing ‍a vote against the continuing resolution ‍as a vote against ‌securing the border. He has accused them of ​siding with President ‍Joe Biden and the Democrats.

However, the ⁢holdouts remain steadfast, and ‌McCarthy will need their support to pass any conservative continuing resolution.

Representative Dan ⁣Bishop ⁣(R-NC) emphasized the need for⁤ a different ‍approach, stating, “They do a CR every year; we’re⁢ trying to do something different than every year.”

Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL), a​ member of the Freedom Caucus, acknowledged that House⁢ Republicans lack the votes to pass a stopgap measure.

Furthermore, even if​ House Republicans manage to pass⁤ their⁤ own continuing resolution,​ it​ will not prevent a government shutdown as it‌ has ⁤no chance of passing the​ Democrat-controlled Senate or being signed ⁣into law by President Biden.

Unresolved Issues and‌ Senate Struggles

Any final continuing resolution will need to ⁢be bipartisan and negotiated between ⁢both the House and the Senate.⁢ However, reaching such⁤ an agreement before the government runs out of money on Sunday seems unlikely.

While the ⁢House grapples with finding an ‍agreement on a continuing resolution and passing appropriations bills, the‍ Senate also‌ faces its own ⁢challenges. Senators have yet to pass a single appropriation⁣ bill off the floor.

The Senate has‌ released its version of a bipartisan continuing resolution and has taken the‌ first procedural⁤ step to consider​ it. However, ‌it is expected to face opposition‌ in the House.

The Senate’s measure would extend government funding⁣ until November 17 and include⁤ over‌ $6 ⁣billion in Ukraine aid. This ‌inclusion is opposed by several House Republicans,​ including McCarthy, who ⁣question its priority over border security and‌ the needs of ‌American families.

With the House and​ Senate at odds over continuing resolutions, it is highly unlikely that ⁤the issue will be resolved before Sunday, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown.

One senior GOP lawmaker, speaking‌ anonymously, stated, “I think a shutdown is highly likely.”

⁤ What role does House Speaker ⁢Kevin ​McCarthy play in rallying⁣ support within his party​ and finding common ground with Democrats ⁤to​ prevent a shutdown ‍and ensure essential government services continue

In unswayed, arguing that a​ temporary funding measure ⁣is not⁢ sufficient to address the border security concerns and that a comprehensive approach is needed.

Representative Tim Burchett stated, “I’m ‌not going to be bullied into ⁣voting for something that doesn’t fix the border.” He emphasized the ⁤need for long-term border security solutions‍ and criticized the temporary‌ nature of the proposed continuing resolution.

Mat‌t ⁤Gaetz echoed these sentiments, asserting that the continuing resolution does ⁢not adequately address the border crisis or hold the Biden administration accountable. He emphasized the need for stronger ‍immigration policies⁢ and border enforcement ​measures.

Despite McCarthy’s efforts, it‌ remains uncertain whether⁣ he will be​ able to convince the holdouts to support the proposed continuing ​resolution. Their resistance could potentially lead to a government shutdown if a‌ budget agreement is not‌ reached‌ by the deadline.

The Way Forward

The passage of ​the​ rule allowing the four appropriations bills to advance is undoubtedly a significant victory for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. It demonstrates ‌his ability to navigate ⁣the challenges within his own party and push forward‌ with Republican priorities.

However, the path to ‍passing these bills and avoiding a government shutdown is still fraught ​with obstacles. The disagreements and ⁤resistance within the Republican ⁢Conference pose a significant challenge ​to passing​ a continuing resolution ​that satisfies all members.

As Congress faces the looming deadline, negotiations and compromises will be necessary to reach a consensus. The role of House Speaker McCarthy will be ⁢crucial ​in rallying support within his‌ party ‍and finding common ground with⁢ Democrats to prevent ​a shutdown and⁤ ensure essential government services ⁢continue.

Ultimately, the fate⁤ of ​the appropriations bills and the potential‌ for ⁢a government shutdown will rely‍ on the ability‌ of congressional leaders to⁢ bridge the divide ‍and find a bipartisan solution. The coming days will be crucial‍ in determining the outcome, and all eyes⁤ will be on McCarthy and his​ ability to rally support within his party and across the aisle.