House GOP leaders are facing opposition from within their own party as they work to avoid a government shutdown through a federal funding plan. There are concerns that a government shutdown is not in the best interest of the American people and could have negative political implications. In order to avoid a shutdown, House GOP leaders are considering putting the funding plan up for a vote under suspension of the rules, which would require a two-thirds majority for passage. The bill in question is a short-term extension of this year’s government funding through a continuing resolution (CR) until Dec. 20 to allow more time for negotiations on spending priorities for fiscal year 2025.
The opposition to the funding plan comes from within the Republican party, with many members arguing that a CR is an unnecessary extension of government bloat. Some members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus are rebelling against the plan, with Rep. Ralph Norman indicating that he would support the rule advancing through the committee but reject it on the House floor. The House GOP leaders are facing a three-seat majority and may not have enough support to pass the rule in a traditional House-wide vote. As a result, Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to put the measure up for a vote under suspension of the rules.
House GOP leaders are facing the challenge of needing to rely on Democratic votes to pass the funding plan in order to avoid a government shutdown just weeks before the Election Day. This has led to concerns among Republicans, including House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, about the reliance on Democratic support. There are worries about the potential for an end-of-year omnibus spending bill, which many Republicans oppose. Majority Leader Steve Scalise has indicated that the CR will be brought to a vote on Wednesday, and the suspension of the rules appears to be the likely option for passage.
Last week, a more conservative CR proposal was defeated by a group of Republicans and Democrats, leading to a more lenient approach to the funding plan. Rep. Tim Burchett, one of the Republicans who voted against the conservative proposal, acknowledged the difficult position that Speaker Johnson is in and suggested that he has to do what is necessary to avoid a government shutdown. Concerns have been raised about the prospect of being forced into an omnibus bill and the reliance on Democratic votes to pass the funding plan. Despite the opposition within the Republican party, House GOP leaders are working towards a solution to avoid a shutdown and keep the government running.
