The federal government is just 12 days away from a total shutdown, and Speaker Kevin McCarthy has grown dissatisfied with Republican stubbornness over spending legislation.
McCarthy promised that leadership would work through the weekend as negotiators appeared to admit defeat against Republicans’ newly released short-term continuation resolution.
“We’ll come up with new ideas and work on them until we get this done.” We’re not leaving this weekend. “We will get through this,” McCarthy told reporters.
About a dozen Republicans have pledged they would vote “no” on a deal negotiated by the right-wing House Freedom Caucus and the Main Street Caucus, a group of pragmatic conservatives, that extends federal funding for a month – which Congress gives more time for voting to pass spending bills and fund the government for the 2024 fiscal year.
McCarthy promised that leadership would work through the weekend as negotiators appeared to admit defeat against Republicans’ newly released short-term continuation resolution
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a member of the Freedom Caucus who worked out the deal with Main Street Chairman Dusty Johnson to avoid a government shutdown, argued that a government shutdown wouldn’t be so bad
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a member of the Freedom Caucus who worked out the deal with Main Street Chairman Dusty Johnson to avoid a government shutdown, argued that a government shutdown wouldn’t be so bad.
“People can live without our government for a while.” I don’t see why not. Every day the sun rises, people live their lives. Life goes on.’
Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana spoke out against the “weak” McCarthy in a statement announcing her opposition to the bill.
“It is a disgrace that our weak speaker cannot even commit to setting up a commission to discuss our impending fiscal disaster,” she said.
“Real leadership requires courage and a willingness to fight for the country, not for power and a picture on the wall,” the Ukrainian-born congresswoman continued. “The Republican House of Representatives is once again failing the American people and pursuing a path of gamesmanship and circus.”
The speaker then mocked Spartz for retiring.
“Nobody who criticizes you has never worked harder than you. “And I mean, if Victoria is interested in fighting harder, then I wish she had run again and not given up,” he told reporters.
‘I wish [McCarthy] “I would work just as hard running our country as he does collecting checks,” Spartz shot back at X.
The agreement would keep defense and homeland security funding at current levels and cut all other funding across the board by eight percent.
The bill does not provide funding for disaster relief or Ukraine.
Even if House Republicans manage to pass it, it will neither pass the Democratic-controlled Senate nor be signed by the White House.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the bill an “insult” to Ukraine and said he “couldn’t imagine a worse reception” for President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will visit the Capitol this week.
Some of the Republicans now opposing the HFC-Main Street deal insist they want no further solution at all and that the House must pass all 12 budget bills.
Some say they wouldn’t vote for a CR unless it would “defund” the Justice Department, particularly Special Counsel Jack Smith and his investigation into Trump.
Meanwhile, two Freedom Caucus members and Trump-supporting Florida Republicans, Reps. Matt Gaetz and Byron Donalds, argued over the short-term CR written by Donalds on X.
Gaetz claimed that Donald’s bill “does the job for Jack Smith.”
Donalds shot back: “Matt, tell people the truth.” The DOJ will operate whether the government is shut down or not. Special investigators have always exempted themselves from closures. What is your plan to get the votes to defund Jack Smith? You need more than tweets and hot takes!!’
“A continuing resolution like the one you filed continues America’s decline,” Gaetz said. “Let’s put this disaster behind us and let’s get one of our best players (you!) back.”
Last week, Gaetz said it would be “shot, pursuer” that if he brought forward any sort of CR, he would immediately file an eviction motion in the House to oust McCarthy.
Spartz and Gaetz attacked McCarthy on Monday
Gaetz also got caught up in the back and forth between McCarthy and Spartz.
“This quote from is a disgrace,” he wrote on X. “Rep. Spartz is retiring after honorable service because her family needs her and she values the most important institution in American life. Kevin attacking a woman for putting her family above ambition and power is truly a new low. Kevin would never understand subduing ambition for anything or anyone.’
Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, head of the GOP Governance Group, called Gaetz a “special person.”
“In the many years he’s been here, what has he ever accomplished other than opening his mouth?”
Accord leaders said they were still promoting the bill to members and trying to dispel the notion that it included funds from Ukraine.
Even Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a bill leader who is not afraid to defy House Republican leadership, expressed frustration with those who “like to beat their chest and say, ‘That’s not it pure enough.”“
