In a high-stakes Capitol showdown, Speaker Kevin McCarthy remains resolute in his determination to put the GOP’s short-term government funding plan to a vote this Thursday, even as rumblings among his own members suggest an impending doom.
McCarthy, amidst a flurry of press encounters on Monday, left the door open for potential alterations to the stopgap bill. This legislative maneuver aims to keep the government financially afloat through October, coupled with selective domestic spending reductions and an injection of robust border security policies. The brainchild of centrists in the Main Street Caucus and staunch conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus, this proposal has drawn fiery criticism from several members of the latter faction, who have pledged vehement opposition.
With a sense of optimism, McCarthy remarked, “Members are going to sit down, be able to work through it.”
The Californian leader doubled down on his belief that House Republicans’ most potent strategy in the spending battle is to secure some form of short-term fiscal relief. This tactical move would grant them additional time to navigate full-year budget bills.
In a surprising turn of events, six negotiators, evenly split between the Freedom and Main Street Caucuses, declared on Sunday night that they had clinched a deal on a one-month stopgap spending bill. This agreement also encompassed spending reductions and a border security bill that had previously passed this year. However, their announcement was swiftly followed by a barrage of conservative lawmakers vowing to reject the measure. With unanimous Democratic opposition and the assumption of full attendance, Republicans can only afford to lose four votes and still secure passage.
Despite these hurdles, McCarthy commended the two caucus groups on Monday for their willingness to unite “for the good of the country.” Nevertheless, he indicated that the current plan was more of a “concept,” hinting at potential leadership-driven revisions. Even if, by some miracle, the bill manages to clear the House, its prospects remain dismal in a Democratic-controlled Senate, rendering it incapable of averting a government shutdown.
Adding to the drama, Republicans are poised to present a colossal defense spending bill on Wednesday, resurrecting it after last week’s stumbling block, attributed largely to conservative opposition.
McCarthy, with unwavering determination, asserted, “I am always cheerfully persistent. We’re going to find a way to get through this… We’re going to bring new ideas up, and we’re going to work until we get this done. We’re not leaving this weekend.”
The suspense in the Capitol escalates as the clock ticks down.
