Clearer pictures have emerged on how the House and Senate will move stopgap spending measures to keep the government open past this week. But the approaches diverge significantly, and a weekend shutdown grows ever more likely.
The House: McCarthy told reporters late Tuesday he would put a continuing resolution on the floor “probably on Friday” that would include additional border security measures. However, with a bloc of conservatives reiterating their opposition to any sort of CR, it’s unclear whether this approach would have the votes to pass.
About that bipartisan Senate measure? McCarthy summed up the feelings of many within the House GOP toward the bill and its billions in Ukraine aid: “If they want to put a focus on Ukraine and not focus on the southern border, I think their priorities are backwards.”
One small victory: After several failed attempts, the House was able to clear a rule, 216-212, setting up debate on four GOP-led spending bills this week on the floor. (Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) was the lone no.) Members voted late into the night on amendments to the first one — on agriculture and other programs — and didn’t wrap up until after 1 a.m.
What motion to vacate threat? McCarthy said he isn’t sweating a threat from Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to try to boot him from his speakership. “People have got to get over personal differences,” the speaker said. “Does it look like it bothers me? No.” Gaetz teased a coming motion to vacate Tuesday on the floor: “My Democrat colleagues will have an opportunity to do something about that too, and we will see if they bail out our failed speaker.”
Meanwhile, the Senate easily cleared a first procedural test on their bipartisan CR on Tuesday evening by a 77-19 vote. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has reiterated he’ll slow consideration of the measure thanks to the inclusion of more aid for Ukraine, so floor action is all but certain to drag into the weekend.
One to watch? How will Majority Leader Chuck Schumer respond to questions about the future of indicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) at his weekly press availability? More than half of Senate Democrats — including a member of leadership Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) — have now called for the New Jersey Democrat to resign.
