House Republican leaders' plan to prevent a partial government shutdown faces mounting resistance from within their own ranks, threatening to derail the effort.
Former President Donald Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway has expressed surprise at Kamala Harris' significant fundraising edge over Trump, despite the latter's lead in key state polls. Conway questioned why Harris was not significantly ahead in the polls given her fundraising advantage.
Meanwhile, House Republican leaders are facing growing opposition from within their own ranks over their plan to avert a partial government shutdown at the end of this month. House GOP leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), have proposed extending the current year's government funding levels through March via a continuing resolution (CR) to provide more time for congressional negotiators to resolve spending priorities for the next fiscal year.
Johnson's Shutdown Aversion Plan Faces Growing Opposition Within GOP Ranks
However, as of early Monday evening, at least four House Republicans had publicly declared their opposition to the bill, with one more GOP "no" vote potentially forcing Johnson to seek Democratic support for passage. Rep. Cory Mills (R-Fla.) has stated his opposition to the CR, calling it nothing more than "messaging." Reps. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) have also expressed their disapproval.
Massie has criticized Johnson for not pursuing a longer CR, emphasizing that a bipartisan agreement passed last year would automatically trigger a 1% government funding cut if the CR extended past April 30. Massie believes Johnson should capitalize on this opportunity, but the latter is hesitant to establish a spending cut deadline. Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), who is retiring at the end of this year, has also voiced his opposition to the bill.
Johnson's Shutdown Aversion Plan Faces Growing Opposition Within GOP Ranks
Lawmakers anticipate a Wednesday vote on the plan, but sufficient opposition could compel House GOP leaders to abandon the vote. Democrats may provide support for the bill, as five House Democrats voted with Republicans to pass the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act earlier this year. However, Democratic leaders in both the House and Senate have denounced the plan, and the White House has stated that President Biden will veto the bill if it reaches his desk.
Johnson has expressed that he has no backup plan if the bill fails, stating that this is a "righteous fight" that the American people deserve. However, the potential political fallout from a government shutdown weeks before Election Day has raised concerns among moderate Republicans, with one expressing that "if we shut down, we lose."
Johnson's Shutdown Aversion Plan Faces Growing Opposition Within GOP Ranks
The mounting opposition within the GOP ranks highlights the challenges that Johnson faces in securing passage of the bill and avoiding a government shutdown. The outcome of the Wednesday vote remains uncertain, and the possibility of Democratic support or a fallback plan could influence the final decision.
