US Government Shutdown Highly Possible After Republicans' Funding Move
The US government shutdown is imminent as the Republicans may have shot themselves in the foot with their own spending bill. The shutdown has been brought about largely by Republican infighting as the more moderate factions in the party disagree with the more far-right MAGA elements.
The US House of Representatives has been described as "effectively paralyzed" because of this internal Republican feud, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy finding himself in a strenuous position and may lose his job as the more far-right elements of the party continue to oppose him.
The government shutdown will mean that federal agencies will partially shut down starting Sunday and the infighting-addled House voted down a measure that would have extended the government's funding for 30 days thus averting the shutdown.
The measure had a 232-198 vote against it and it would have cut spending and imposed immigration and border security restrictions, which Reuters pointed out would not have passed in the Democrat-controlled US Senate. However, it was the Republican majority itself that rejected the bill.
"It's not the end yet, I've got other ideas," said McCarthy as time continues to tick. He declined to say what his ideas to save the government were. His deadline is Saturday, September 30. It must pass the Senate and be signed by President Joe Biden before 12:01 AM ET on Sunday.
Should the US government shut down, much of its functions will stop, including forcing national parks to close down, the SEC suspending most of its regulatory activities, and up to four million federal workers not getting their salaries. It could also cause programs for small businesses and children to be delayed, as well as delay major infrastructure improvements.
How a Small Group of Hard-Line Republicans Held the US Government Hostage and Cause a Shut Down
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has been described as one of the weakest Speakers in history as he not only received attacks from the left but also from within his own party on the right. To be specific, the majority of criticisms against him actually come from the far-right members of the Donald Trump-aligned House Freedom Caucus.
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He tried pushing his party members to embrace a short-term funding plan that would include a sweeping Republican proposal for the southern border. However, this was rejected by the hardline conservatives who continued their defiance of the House Speaker, according to the Associated Press.
While McCarthy and the more moderate Republicans acknowledge that they must deal and compromise with the Democrats who hold both the White House and the Senate, members of the far-right e House Freedom Caucus have taken a more combative stance, from opposing McCarthy as Speaker to almost causing the shut down the last time by doing what they have been doing right now, opposing McCarthy's proposals.
Hardline Republicans Making Narrow Majority Much More Complicated in US Government Shutdown
The Republicans only have a narrow margin in the House and this makes the infighting within the party much worse. He could only afford to lose four votes from his own party but the House Freredom Caucus members are refusing to budge.
The House Speaker then suggested that the ones opposing his bill are siding with Biden because they would not back his proposal for increased border funding. However, Florida GOP Rep. Cory Mills, one of the hardliners, called his fellow Republican's claims to be "absolutely false."
"If they want to play politics with messaging, then by all means, let them go ahead and do that. My vote remains the same," said the Florida Republican. "We do care about securing our borders. We've made that a top priority."
Meanwhile, Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs stated that there should be "long-term sustainability over short-term rhetoric."
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This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
WATCH: Gaetz: Government will shutdown and it's McCarthy's fault - Washington Post
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