Trump Pressures GOP to Unite for Funding Bill
Former President Donald Trump is calling on Republican lawmakers to come together around a funding bill by the end of September to prevent a government shutdown, despite opposition from Democrats.
This week, House GOP leadership has managed to create a straightforward continuous resolution (CR) that would keep the government running until mid-November. However, some Republicans have expressed discontent, arguing against delaying funding negotiations until year’s end and opposing the approach of short-term funding bills.
Trump stated in a post on Truth Social, “In these times, Republicans must fight back against the demands of the radical Left Democrats and stick together to vote, ‘Yes!’ on both votes that need to pass the clean CR from the House this week. Democrats want the government to close, Republicans want it to open.” He also emphasized, “Failure is not an option.”
The proposed “clean” CR would maintain government budgets at the same levels as the previous fiscal year, without any added policy changes.
Speaker Mike Johnson can afford to lose a couple of votes, given the narrow 219-213 majority. Nonetheless, support from Democrats is unlikely to back the GOP’s funding strategy.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have made it clear that they will oppose the partisan funding bill, demanding concessions related to expired health law subsidies in exchange.
Interestingly, Democrat Jared Golden from Maine previously supported the GOP funding bill back in March.
Republican Thomas Massey, who often aligns with Trump on key issues, is currently viewed as a strong supporter. Meanwhile, libertarian-leaning Representative Victoria Spartz from Indiana has vowed to vote against the CR, although she initially showed support in a previous vote.
Other Republicans like Warren Davidson from Ohio and Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia have voiced their concerns over the strategy of delaying funding decisions until late November.
