Slimmed-Down Version of CR Fails, With 38 Republicans Voting Against It

I forgot that the House Speaker always must court Democrat votes for these bills because there is a bloc of Republicans who will not vote for any CR that raises the debt ceiling.

So Republicans defeated the more Republican version of the bill.

But 38 Republicans voted against the bill. That's more than the 15-20 who just refuse to vote for any budget.

I think some Republicans really want that pay raise and really want that Democrat spending.

A government spending bill supported by President-elect Donald Trump failed to pass the House of Representatives on Thursday night, intensifying concerns of a partial shutdown. The legislation required a two-thirds majority but fell short with a vote of 174-235. Divisions within the GOP and opposition from Democrats left Congress without a clear path forward ahead of the Friday deadline.

Key Details:

The bill, which extended government funding through March 14th and suspended the debt limit until January 2027, was opposed by 38 Republican lawmakers and most Democrats. Only two Democrats crossed party lines to support it.

The proposed legislation included $110 billion in disaster relief aid, covering damage from storms Milton and Helene, and funds to rebuild Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge. However, it omitted provisions like a pay raise for Congress and a revitalization plan for Washington, D.C.'s RFK Stadium.

A fringe group of Republicans defied the president-elect and rejected the bill, including Texas Rep. Chip Roy, Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, and Montana Rep. Matt Rosendale.

Diving Deeper:

The House's rejection of Speaker Mike Johnson's Plan B budget proposal leaves Congress scrambling to avoid a government shutdown set to begin at 11:59 p.m. Friday. The failure of the measure highlights deep divisions within the House, as Democrats and conservative Republicans united in opposition to the plan.

Johnson's proposal, unveiled hours before the vote, sought to fund the government at current levels through March 14, 2024, while suspending the debt limit for two years. It also included $100 billion in disaster relief and $10 billion for farmers. However, these provisions failed to garner necessary support.

Democrats, led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, dismissed the plan outright. "This proposal is laughable and unserious," Jeffries said, reflecting his caucus's frustration over what they see as inadequate responses to pressing issues. During a Democratic caucus meeting, lawmakers were reportedly heard chanting, "Hell no."

Republicans also took issue with the debt limit suspension. Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the House Freedom Caucus, criticized the plan on social media, stating, "More debt. More government. Increasing the Credit Card $4 trillion with ZERO spending restraint and cuts. HARD NO."

posted by Ace at 12:14 PM

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