On Tuesday, Speaker Mike Johnson and former President Trump were working to keep the Republican party united ahead of a crucial vote. This vote was to decide on funding the government until September 30 and avoid a potential shutdown.
The legislation, expected to be voted on Tuesday afternoon, aims to maintain last year’s spending levels. However, it includes a $6 billion increase for military expenses. There would be an overall drop in spending since it doesn’t allocate money for local projects. Additionally, it would cut more than $1 billion from Washington D.C.’s budget for the remaining fiscal year.
Democratic leaders in the House are urging their members to vote against this bill. They argue that it gives too much control to the Trump administration and the initiative led by Elon Musk to significantly cut federal spending. They’ve also mentioned concerns regarding the lack of protections for Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, even though these programs are outside the appropriations process.
If all Democrats vote against the bill, House Republicans can only lose one member’s support. Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky has publicly stated he’ll vote no. He’s faced criticism from Trump, who plans to support a challenger in the next election against him.
Massie expressed his firm stance on social media, stating, “Unless I get a lobotomy Monday that causes me to forget what I’ve witnessed the past 12 years, I’ll be a NO on the CR this week.” He criticized the idea that Republicans could seek another chance in the future to push for budget cuts.
Many conservative Republicans in the House have been resistant to stopgap funding bills in the past because they often maintain flat spending without addressing necessary cuts. This situation has led Republican leaders to frequently rely on Democrats to pass measures that prevent government shutdowns. This approach contributed to the removal of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy earlier this year.
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United States Politics and Government,Federal Budget (US),Shutdowns (Institutional),House of Representatives,Republican Party,Johnson, Mike (1972- )
