Republican Stop-Gap Funding Bill Fails in House; Shutdown Begins Oct. 1
A vote for a 30-day temporary spending bill, which proposed major changes to the administration's immigration policies and cut spending by $10 billion in that month, failed 198-232, with 21 Republicans voting no. The spending cuts spared Department of Homeland Security, defense spending and funding for veterans. As a result, the other discretionary spending would have been cut 29.9% below current levels.
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The White House, in a veto message ahead of the vote, said, "In a blatant violation of the funding agreement the Speaker and the President reached just a few months ago, the bill endangers the vital programs Americans rely on by making reckless cuts to programs, regardless of the consequences for critical services from education to food safety to law enforcement to housing to public health. It also fails to address key emergency funding needs where lives are at stake, ignoring the Administration’s request for resources to combat the fentanyl crisis and effectively manage the border, support the people of Ukraine as they defend their homeland from Russia’s illegal war, and stand with communities across America as they recover from natural disasters."
The Senate is working on its own temporary spending bill, which would last until Nov. 17, but it cannot pass until Monday, Oct. 2, because Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is not willing to waive chamber rules on time for debate. Paul opposes sending money to support Ukraine as part of the short-term package. The government shutdown will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 1.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said during a press conference after the vote that "the only way forward is for House Republicans is to put the bipartisan [Senate] continuing resolution ... on the House floor for an up or down vote. It's not that complicated."
He added: "What's the alternative? They tried a partisan continuing resolution and they failed."
Some of the same Republicans who voted against keeping the government open also would vote to oust House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., if he allows a vote that would pass with more Democratic than Republican votes.
Although McCarthy has sole authority to choose what gets a vote in the House, if a majority of House members signed a discharge petition, they could force a vote on a bill, though it would not be immediate, because the rules provide for a wait of seven legislative days, and then the speaker can add another two days.
Every Democrat has signed a petition that could be used for this purpose.
"All we would need are six Republicans and we could move legislation to the floor that would end this GOP shutdown," Jeffries said.
The House is scheduled to vote on Saturday, Sept. 30, but it's unknown what McCarthy intends to bring to the floor. It could be another yearlong spending bill with significant spending cuts.