The House Freedom Caucus sent a clear signal that they must see all appropriations bills totaled up and fired a warning shot to leadership to hold firm on the agreements made in an earlier deal to avoid government debt default. If lawmakers cant reach a deal it could lead to a shut down or a longer term stop gap measure that would just fund the federal government at the same levels its been at throughout the year. The votes will test the GOP leaderships ability to unite the conference and win over the votes of conservatives some of whom have never voted for the spending bills in the past. But even if House Republicans manage to pass two of their spending bills with a narrow margin theyll have more to consider and just weeks to do so when they return in September before the funding deadline. The House is moving their bills at lower levels than what was agreed to as part of the debt ceiling deal McCarthy struck with the White House in May. Meanwhile Senate appropriators agreed to inject an additional billion in emergency spending to boost defense and nondefense spending last week increasing the gap between the two sides even further. Its a messy fight that could take time to sort out in a conference committee assuming House Republicans can remain united enough to get all of their bills through the House and Senate before the October deadline. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is already warning that he could face a backlash if he brings a bill to the floor that has higher spending levels that the House hardliners are looking for than what the House is looking for. But Rep. Andy Biggs a Republican from Arizona predicted there will not be a government shutdown however. He pointed to the failure in their view of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and that the appropriations process was promised as a potential avenue to get their priorities through. It was said by leadership at that time that the FRA was the ceiling not the floor. That we would go back to preCovid level spending for nondefence discretionary spending and were calling on Republicans to do that very thing. So we dont fear a shutdown. What would happen if Republicans for once stared down the Democrats and were the ones who refuse to cave and to betray the American people and the trust they put in us when they gave the majority to them? That would be a betrayal of the Americanpeople and of the trust that they gave us in the first place, he said. And then when we then try to uphold our commitment our word to theAmerican people that we will not push spending beyond the . trillion dollars for non-discretionary spending. That is just not going to be feasible because we will never be able to see what the total spending is until the very end. And we want leadership to uphold their end of the deal. And that is why we want to see all of the appropriations bills Freedom Caucus member Matt Rosendale a Montana Republican told reporters. He added if leadership believes they are going to trickle these out two at a time three a week four a week that is justnot going to being feasible because they will never see the full picture.
House Freedom Caucus previews looming appropriations fight. House will vote on spending bills this week.
