GOP Congressman Argues Against Fear of Government Shutdown

A Republican Lawmaker Calls for Fiscal Restraint‍ and Challenges ⁣Fear of Government Shutdown

A ‌Republican lawmaker argued ‌on Tuesday⁣ in favor of making a play for spending ⁣cuts without “fear” of a government shutdown as the appropriations ‍process ⁣ramps ⁤up.

Appearing with colleagues in​ the conservative House Freedom Caucus outside the U.S. Capitol Building, Rep. ⁤Bob ‌Good (R-VA) made a‌ hardline case for demanding fiscal restraint ahead of the new fiscal year, which starts in the fall.

“We⁤ should not ⁣fear a government shutdown. Most of what we do up here is bad anyway,” Good​ said.

Rep. Bob Good: “We⁤ should not​ fear a ⁤government⁣ shutdown. Most of what we do up here is bad anyway.” pic.twitter.com/Y5p1YhqIIf

— Aaron Rupar‌ (@atrupar) ⁤ July 25,‌ 2023

Highlighting‍ Essential Operations ⁢and Addressing Concerns

Reciting a figure given by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Good said 85% ‌of “essential operations” ​would continue. He‍ also contended that most Americans “won’t even miss if the government is shut down temporarily.”

On social ‌media,⁣ Rep. Gerry⁣ Connolly (D-VA) shot back at Good with a ⁢short list of services he said federal agencies would‍ be unable⁤ to provide during a government shutdown.

“The Federal ⁤Housing Administration ⁤ can’t process loans and mortgage approvals. ​The Food and Drug Administration ‍can’t conduct food safety inspections.⁤ The Small Business Administration can’t process loans to help ‌start ‍small businesses. The Environmental⁢ Protection Agency can’t⁣ inspect drinking‍ water systems and chemical facilities,”

Members of​ the ⁤Freedom Caucus have⁢ been putting pressure on House leadership to bend to their ⁣demands on appropriations or risk losing critical votes following ‌this spring’s⁣ bipartisan deal to avoid a default on the‍ U.S. debt.

Good ⁢was responding‍ to a two-part question from a ⁣reporter, who asked if there were​ concerns about a government shutdown in October — the start of the new fiscal year — and whether Freedom Caucus-approved spending legislation could get⁣ through the Democrat-controlled Senate.

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Optimistic Outlook and Challenging the Status⁣ Quo

Biggs, the first to‍ answer the question, said he was not‍ worried about a government shutdown at this point, predicting that ‍some spending measures will be combined and‍ pass as a “minibus” while a continuous resolution would keep the rest of the government running through the end of the year as talks progress.

WATCH LIVE: House Freedom Caucus holds news briefing ⁢on 2024 Congressional budget https://t.co/YkyzEdzVpE

— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) July 25, 2023

In rounding out his response, Good ⁤argued that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) “has an opportunity to be a transformational, historical speaker that stared down the Democrats, that stared down the free-spenders, that stared down the ⁣president, and said, ‘No, we’re‍ going to do what the American people elected ​us to do.'”

“We’re going to pass a good Republican bill out of the House and force the Senate and the White House to accept it, or we’re not going to move forward,” Good added. “What⁣ would happen if Republicans for once stared down⁢ the Democrats and were the ones who refused to cave ⁢and to ⁣betray the American people and the trust they put in us when they ‌gave us the majority? So we⁣ don’t fear a government shutdown.”

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