Washington-As the specter of a partial U.S. government shutdown looms ominously just two weeks away, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has declared his intention to bring a pivotal defense spending bill to a vote this week, vowing to proceed “win or lose.” This resolute stance comes despite staunch opposition from within his own party’s hardline faction.
McCarthy finds himself grappling to navigate the tumultuous waters of advancing fiscal year 2024 spending legislation, with a deeply divided Republican caucus torn by the stringent demands of conservative members to slash spending levels back to those of 2022, amounting to $1.47 trillion—a stark $120 billion reduction from the spending pact he forged with President Joe Biden in May.
Late on Sunday, members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, in conjunction with the more moderate Main Street Caucus, unveiled an agreement centered on a short-term stopgap measure aimed at maintaining government operations until October 31st. However, this interim solution proposes an austere reduction exceeding 8% for all agencies except the defense and veterans affairs departments.
This proposed measure, though unlikely to become law in its current form, is replete with conservative-driven restrictions pertaining to immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border.
Republican leaders posit that such a compromise could facilitate the advancement of the defense spending bill through the House this week. Nevertheless, the measure’s fate hinges on securing sufficient support within the Republican ranks, a task compounded by anticipated opposition from House and Senate Democrats who steadfastly reject the included immigration provisions.
The Republican party, with a precarious 221-212 majority in the House, remains embroiled in internal disputes over fiscal priorities while simultaneously embarking on a nascent impeachment campaign against President Joe Biden. This comes as the United States teeters on the brink of its fourth partial government shutdown in the past decade.
Within party ranks, McCarthy is increasingly confronted with calls for a vote of no confidence from staunch conservatives and others who contend that he has reneged on commitments made during his ascension to the speakership in January, following a revolt led by some of the House’s most ardently conservative Republicans.
The Republican-controlled House and the Democratic-controlled Senate are tasked with enacting appropriations bills that President Biden, a Democrat, can endorse into law, or alternatively, adopting a brief stopgap spending measure to extend the debate period beyond the looming October 1st deadline, thereby averting a partial government shutdown.
McCarthy conveyed an unwavering stance to appease hardline conservatives, affirming his intent to bring the stalled defense bill to the House floor this week. Last week, the House deferred a vote on commencing debate on the defense appropriations bill in the face of unyielding opposition from the conservative faction.
“We’ll bring it to the floor, win or lose, and show the American public who’s for the department of defense, who’s for our military,” McCarthy asserted.
Furthermore, McCarthy underscored his commitment to circumventing a government shutdown on October 1st, emphasizing, “A shutdown would only give strength to the Democrats.”
Over the weekend, McCarthy engaged in closed-door negotiations aimed at surmounting hurdles posed by conservative hardliners concerning spending legislation. These conservatives seek assurance that the legislation will encompass their substantial spending cuts alongside conservative policy priorities, including measures related to bolstering border security, which are anticipated to face opposition from Democratic lawmakers.
“We made some good progress,” McCarthy reported.
Meanwhile, Representative Elise Stefanik, the fourth-ranking House Republican, expressed optimism following confidential discussions on appropriations.
However, Republican Representative Nancy Mace did not share the same optimism and did not rule out supporting a vote of no confidence in McCarthy. Mace voiced grievances, asserting that the Speaker had failed to fulfill commitments related to women’s issues and gun violence.
“At this point, everything’s on the table for me,” Mace remarked.
Downplaying the consequences of a shutdown, Mace contended that much of the government would continue operating, and affected government workers would eventually receive back pay.
Former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned against a shutdown’s potential harm to vulnerable individuals reliant on government assistance, emphasizing the necessity of averting such an outcome.
“We’re talking about diminishing even something as simple and fundamental as feeding the children,” Pelosi lamented. “We have to try to avoid it.”
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By Reuters
