Divided House GOP struggles to avoid a government shutdown

WASHINGTON – Republicans in a divided House of Representatives stumbled upon last week Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to pass a bill to fund the government.

They will take another crack at the funding event this week, with just 15 days left until the money runs out – and growing concerns about federal government shutdownincluding among top Republicans worried about their party’s political consequences November 5 election.

“A government shutdown is always a bad idea,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters.

Johnson, R-La., “is going to have to gather the votes — and he’s a majority, so he’s going to have to figure out what the right combination is,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. “It’s kind of like a Rubik’s Cube.”

Cornyn, who is seeking to become the next Senate GOP leader, did not favor the length or details of the recess bill, saying only: “I’m in favor of keeping the lights on. This will be my main goal.”

Johnson worked through the weekend, reaching out to various factions of the 220-member GOP conference and trying to find a way forward on a short-term funding bill before the government shut down at 12:01 a.m. on Oct. 1. The Speaker’s initial strategy called for a six-month-long resolution (CR) related to the SAVE Act, which is supported by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Proof of citizenship is required to vote.

But Johnson and his whip team failed to muster the GOP votes needed to pass the package, and Speaker suddenly drew the bill He left the floor hours before the scheduled vote on Wednesday.

In an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” Monday morning, Johnson said Republicans have a responsibility to fund the government and we have a responsibility to make sure the upcoming elections are safe, fair and secure. The SAVE Act for CR and we are working with family conversations about the best way to make all of this happen, I hope we can do both, and we are committed to doing so.

Johnson’s task is complicated by Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio lay eggs a fight that could lead to a government shutdown.

While the House bill’s six-month time limit is favored by conservatives, some top Republicans oppose it.

Some conservative hardliners have said they strongly oppose supporting any CR, with powerful Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., saying he would not support a CR because it would freeze Pentagon funding increases for half a year.

It’s unclear whether Johnson will try to change the SAVE Act approach this week or try something completely different.

“We’re working on all the options right now, but we’re very committed to the SAVE Act,” Johnson told NBC News last week as lawmakers prepared to leave the Capitol.

President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats, as well as some Republicans, are pushing a shorter-term bill that would fund the government at current levels through December, with nothing more. That would give Congress an opportunity to finalize a funding deal in a lame-duck session, with the goal of leaving a clean slate for the next president and avoiding another fiscal crisis early next year.

“We need a bipartisan bill where everybody comes together and figures out what to do,” Schumer told reporters last week. “You’ve seen the chaos in the House because Speaker Johnson is trying to do this in a partisan way under the leadership of the far right — getting nowhere.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., the first Republican to publicly say he opposes CR, said Johnson could push the GOP bill through the lower house, but it “will never become law” because Democrats control the government. Senate.

“This is theater!” Massey said.

While the House of Representatives is expected to act first, the Senate could be pressured to intervene if Johnson and his caucus remain at odds for much longer.

Republicans see the SAVE Act as a mechanism to try to corner politically sensitive Democrats. However, this tactic is less effective when it comes to the threat of closure.

D-Mont., who is running for re-election in a state that could decide control of the Senate. Sen. Jon Tester said he single-handedly supported the bill.

“I don’t think it should be in the appropriations bill. It just confuses things,” Tester said. “Debate and debate. I’ll vote for it. Even if I don’t have to. It is now illegal for non-citizens to vote.”he added.