Conservative Congressmen Stall Spending Talks on Capitol Hill, Threaten Government Shutdown
Conservative members of Congress are causing significant disruptions on Capitol Hill as spending talks continue ahead of the government funding deadline. Led by Reps. Andy Biggs and Eli Crane of Arizona, these holdouts have repeatedly thwarted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s attempts to pass a temporary funding measure. Their refusal to support a continuing resolution has put McCarthy in a difficult position and has embarrassed him with an unprecedented number of failed rule votes.
With only a narrow three-seat majority, McCarthy’s leadership is being put to the test once again. Conservative members of the House Freedom Caucus, including Biggs, Crane, and Matt Rosendale of Montana, argue that a protracted government shutdown might be necessary to catalyze a change in Congress’s approach to spending. They reject the idea of continuing resolutions, which they see as lazy and a continuation of Democratic spending levels.
Other conservative lawmakers, such as Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, have also voiced their opposition to passing a continuing resolution. Bishop referred to these efforts as mere cosmetic messaging bills and emphasized the need for real change.
Freshman congressman Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona has emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of a continuing resolution. He argues that a government shutdown is necessary to force a shift in Congress’s way of appropriating funds. Crane believes that the current system needs to change, and a shutdown could serve as a watershed moment for reform.
Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida has consistently opposed McCarthy’s attempts to move forward without a shutdown. Gaetz is calling for a return to regular order where all twelve appropriations bills are considered separately, instead of relying on a continuing resolution. According to Gaetz, this approach is necessary to expose and end corruption in America.
While McCarthy plans to pass appropriations packages and a continuing resolution, it seems increasingly likely that a government shutdown may occur. Calls from former President Donald Trump to SHUT IT DOWN! if demands are not met have further fueled the tension. However, many House Republicans have condemned their fellow conservative colleagues for risking a shutdown, as it primarily results in additional expenses and diminishes their influence in negotiations with the Senate.
The inability of the Republican conference to unite around a temporary funding measure has raised concerns among moderate Republicans who may join Democrats in approving a stopgap funding bill, effectively bypassing McCarthy. This move could lead to a conservative backlash and potentially cost McCarthy his speakership.
Meanwhile, the Senate is also facing obstacles, as Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky has objected to a rule that would fast-track a Senate-originated continuing resolution. This disagreement sets the stage for an 11th-hour vote to decide whether the government will remain fully funded or certain discretionary spending will run dry until spending bills are finalized.
The ongoing standoff between conservative congressmen and House leadership presents a significant challenge as the government funding deadline approaches. While some members are pushing for a government shutdown to bring about change, others warn of the consequences and urge pragmatic conservative solutions. As tensions rise, the fate of government funding and the potential for a shutdown remain uncertain.
