Behind closed doors, House GOP leaders are orchestrating a clandestine operation: crafting a Republican-exclusive stopgap funding bill that boldly incorporates the core elements of the party’s robust border security legislation while wielding the knife on domestic funding. The rumblings of this ambitious endeavor come courtesy of insights from three well-placed Republicans.
This audacious plan, though still in a state of rapid evolution, has predominantly been spearheaded by members affiliated with the House Freedom Caucus and the GOP Main Street Caucus, infusing a sense of unity into a conference that has often found itself at odds.
While this endeavor would undoubtedly represent a significant victory for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in his quest to bridge the divisions within his party, it’s important to note that its power to stave off a looming shutdown, set to come into effect on September 30, remains in doubt. Senate Democrats are expected to vehemently rebuff this proposal.
The emerging GOP blueprint carries within it certain reductions in domestic funding, alongside the incorporation of key provisions from the House GOP’s previously ratified border bill. Notably absent from this legislative gambit is a contentious element linked to the mandatory use of the “e-verify” system, a strategic omission to ensure smoother legislative sailing. Additionally, this maneuver sets the stage for the House to deliberate a defense spending bill on the floor in the upcoming week, a critical step that had been stymied for days due to resistance from hardline members.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), an active participant in these deliberations, refrained from divulging intricate details during a Thursday afternoon discussion. He cryptically remarked, “We’re working through it, we’re gonna continue to do that because we’re serious about our jobs and we want to make sure we execute for the American people.”
In the shadowy corridors of power, this covert maneuvering promises to inject a jolt of excitement into the high-stakes political arena.
