President Trump on Monday called on House Republicans to unite in support of a “clean” short-term continuing resolution that GOP leaders are preparing to avoid a government shutdown on October 1 and fund federal agencies into late November.
“In times like these, Republicans have to stick TOGETHER to fight back against the Radical Left Democrat demands, and vote ‘YES!’ on both Votes needed to pass a Clean CR this week out of the House of Representatives,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “Democrats want the Government to shut down. Republicans want the Government to OPEN.”
The post comes as a couple of House Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Victoria Spartz of Indiana, have already voiced their opposition to the funding plan, with Reps. Warren Davidson of Ohio and Marjorie Taylor-Greene of Georgia signaling reservations as well. House Speaker Mike Johnson can’t afford to lose more than two votes, assuming all Democrats stick together. Spartz has been known to threaten to vote against GOP leadership’s plans only to fall in line when pressed.
Republican leaders are working to put Democrats in a similar predicament to the one they faced in March, when House GOPers banded together to pass a funding bill, forcing Senate Democrats to choose between approving a spending plan they had no part in writing or allowing a shutdown. At least seven Democrats would be needed to reach the required 60 votes to pass the bill in the Senate. In March, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and nine other Democrats ultimately helped advance a seven-month funding bill.
But Schumer says this time will be different. He and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have called on Republicans to negotiate on the funding bill and include healthcare concessions such as an extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. “We want to keep the government open by engaging in bipartisan negotiation,” Schumer reportedly said Monday. He sought to lay the blame for a potential shutdown on Republicans: “If one side refuses to negotiate they are the ones causing the shutdown.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters on Monday that he hopes to get the stopgap measure done this week before lawmakers leave for a scheduled recess next week. That may not happen, though, as a House vote might not come until Thursday or Friday.
One unresolved issue delaying the release of the Republican legislation: Lawmakers may include additional funding for congressional security after the assassination last week of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The White House is also asking Congress for an extra $58 million in security funding for the executive and judicial branches.