Government Avoids Shutdown, but McCarthy’s Leadership in Question
Shared By Peter Boykin – American Political Commentator / Citizen Journalist / Political Candidate
No government shut down
Government Avoids Shutdown, but McCarthy’s Leadership in Question
No government shut down… yet
In a recent development, Speaker Kevin McCarthy successfully ushered through a bill to temporarily fund the government, which passed both the House and Senate and was subsequently signed by President Joe Biden, preventing an impending government shutdown.
However, the victory is tempered by the fact that McCarthy had to broker a deal with Democrats, effectively bypassing a substantial portion of his fellow House Republicans to secure passage.
Here’s a breakdown of the Continuing Resolution (CR): The bill extends government funding for 45 days, postponing the issue until November 17. The short-term funding measure garnered approval with a vote of 335-91, with 90 Republicans and one Democrat opposing it. In essence, McCarthy left behind 40% of House Republicans.
What Does the CR Contain? At its core, the CR maintains current spending levels for the government and allocates $16 billion for disaster relief in regions recently affected, such as Hawaii. However, it lacks provisions for spending cuts and more stringent border security measures, both of which House Republicans were keen on including.
Notably, the CR does not provide additional funding for Ukraine. Nevertheless, there is a twist regarding Ukraine funding.
Ukraine Funding Dynamics: Reports suggest that McCarthy assured Democratic support by pledging to bring a separate vote on Ukraine funding to the House floor when lawmakers reconvene on October 17.
McCarthy’s Political Survival: There is growing clamor among Republicans to remove McCarthy from his leadership position due to this episode. Representative Matt Gaetz, a vocal critic, declared his intention to file a “motion to vacate” against McCarthy, stating, “If at this time next week Kevin McCarthy is still Speaker of the House, it will be because the Democrats bailed him out. He can be their Speaker, not mine.” McCarthy, in response, expressed confidence in his position, saying, “I’ll survive… So be it, bring it on.”
What is the “Motion to Vacate”? In adherence to the rules McCarthy consented to in January, any individual House member can introduce a motion to vacate, which only requires a simple majority for success.
Behind the Scenes: Rumors circulate that as part of McCarthy’s agreement with Democrats, they have committed to voting in favor of keeping him as Speaker if Gaetz follows through with the motion to vacate.
In this political maneuvering, the political swamp continues to engage in its typical machinations.
[Source: Daily Caller, The Hill, Just the News]
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