Conference fails to approve procedural motion to take up defense spending bill as government shutdown looms
The House Republican speaker, Kevin McCarthy, was dealt his second humiliating defeat of the week on Thursday, when his conference again failed to approve a procedural motion as members continued to clash over government spending levels with just days left to avert a federal shutdown.
With no clear path forward in Republicans’ negotiations, the House concluded its work on Thursday without any stated plan to reconvene on Friday.
“Discussions related to [fiscal year 2024] appropriations are ongoing,” Congressman Tom Emmer, the House Republican whip, said in a statement. “Members are advised that ample notice will be given ahead of any potential votes tomorrow or this weekend.”
McCarthy: “hard-right Republicans want to burn the whole place down!”
Moderate Democrats: “so you’ll work with us instead, to pass legislation that keeps the lights on, and addresses some of the problems we both agree exist?”
McCarthy: “No. Fuck you. Die in a fire.”
If he does that he’ll be removed as speaker.
Not if the Dems agree to vote to keep him. He could play this like an intelligent human being and still keep his job, so long as he’s willing to weather a bit of right-wing media blowback for the next few months. He just has to strike a bipartisan deal, like he’s supposed to.
Why the hell should they??
To have a functioning government. There’s 0 chance there will be a democratic speaker. There’s a pretty good chance nothing works, and normal people don’t get paid for weeks or months if bipartisanship is out.
To have a functioning bad government.
Bipartisanship is suicide in the long run.
The choices are the status quo or worse. There is no option for better that they’re rejecting by using bipartisanship to pass a clean CR.
The status quo is going to kill everyone everywhere forever.
You want to look like an unhinged melodramatic who shouldn’t be taken seriously?
Because statements like that are how you look like an unhinged melodramatic who shouldn’t be taken seriously.
And how does not making a deal with McCarthy to pass a clean CR help with that exactly?