Title: Republicans Attempt New Strategy to Avoid Government Shutdown, Faces Opposition from Democrats and Hard-Right Republicans
In a bid to prevent a government shutdown before the looming September 30 deadline, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have come up with a new approach. They are proposing four separate spending bills that include significant budget cuts, with the hope of leveraging negotiations with the Democrat-controlled Senate.
However, the Democrats have made it clear that these spending bills are unlikely to gain their approval. In fact, the White House has already stated that President Joe Biden would veto two of the proposed bills, further complicating the situation.
The House is expected to vote on these spending bills on Tuesday, and if passed, it could give Republicans some room for negotiation with the Senate. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is optimistic that by passing these bills, a stop-gap funding bill can be enacted to keep the government running until October 31. However, certain hard-right Republicans within the party vehemently oppose this idea, potentially hindering progress.
The House Rules Committee convened on Friday to review the four bills, each aimed at funding different sectors for the entire fiscal year. However, with Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House, they cannot afford many defections. This creates a challenging dynamic within the party as they attempt to find common ground, especially considering the hard-right Republicans’ opposition to a stop-gap funding bill.
Former President Donald Trump has expressed his support for a government shutdown, but it remains uncertain if this stance will materialize. In contrast, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has scheduled a procedural vote on a stopgap funding bill for Tuesday evening. If the bill is passed, McCarthy would face the tough decision of bringing it up for a House vote, potentially angering far-right Republicans and risking his position as House Speaker.
Failure to reach an agreement on spending levels could lead to the curtailment of various government activities. As the deadline approaches, Republican lawmakers are under mounting pressure to find a solution that avoids a government shutdown while still addressing their party’s fiscal concerns.
Overall, with Republicans banking on their proposed spending bills and facing opposition from both Democrats and hard-right Republicans, the future of government funding remains uncertain. All eyes are on the upcoming House vote and the subsequent negotiations, as the nation hopes for a resolution that will keep the government running smoothly.
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