Title: Bipartisan Lawmakers Weigh In on Impending Government Shutdown as Pressure Mounts on House Speaker McCarthy
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Washington – As the deadline for a possible government shutdown looms large, bipartisan lawmakers have begun expressing their concerns and opinions on the matter. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy finds himself under immense pressure to pass a spending bill with less than a week left, leading to speculation about the future of his speakership.
House Committee on Ways and Means Chair, Rep. Jason Smith (R-Missouri), acknowledged McCarthy’s ability to deliver results despite a narrow majority, saying, “Don’t count him out” during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Monday.
However, McCarthy, a Republican from California, faces a challenge as he cannot afford to lose more than four Republican votes on the spending bill. In a scenario where Republican votes are crucial, the House Freedom Caucus, previously boasting 49 members, has taken a firm stance on domestic spending cuts, effectively delaying budget negotiations. While McCarthy might seek Democratic support to secure votes and avoid a shutdown, such a move would put his speakership at risk.
Attempting to address the concerns within his party, Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tennessee) suggested that he might advocate for the removal of the House speaker if a compromise with Democrats is reached.
“The reality is this intra-Republican fighting and the dysfunction in their caucus is what will, in the end, bring about this shutdown if it comes about,” said Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pennsylvania), the ranking member of the House Budget Committee, during his appearance on “Squawk Box.”
The House is set to reconvene on Tuesday to continue budget negotiations. Last week, the House recessed without passing a basic rules measure required to debate a Pentagon funding bill.
Commenting on McCarthy’s ability to move bills through the House, Heidi Heitkamp, a former Democratic senator from North Dakota, said, “Clearly it’s a Kevin McCarthy problem” during her interview on “Squawk Box.”
Heitkamp added, “We’ve got a system in Washington where the very, very elite minority who only get attention during these time periods can throw a cog into the wheel and stop the government.”
Failing to pass a spending bill by Saturday will result in the disruption of nonessential government functions, impacting federal government employee pay and Social Security benefit verification. However, former White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, who served under then-President Donald Trump, played down the severity of the situation, stating, “People will get paid at the end of this,” and assuring that “everything is going to be fine.” Mulvaney also emphasized that while the impending shutdown may not be a crisis, it is not the ideal method for reducing spending.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes remain on Congress as lawmakers strive to navigate the political landscape and find a resolution to avoid a government shutdown.