Republicans rage as Kevin McCarthy critics TANK first step to avoid a shutdown: Chaos as GOP accuses rebels of being ‘Chinese sympathizers’ by voting against defense spending bill

Washington, D.C., took another step toward shutdown Thursday as congressional Republicans failed to advance a defense spending bill and were forced to cancel another vote that would have funded the government for 30 days.

The Republican Party has descended into civil war – with Speaker Kevin McCarthy battling conservative rebels who want to oust him and slashing U.S. aid to Ukraine.

The party is now scrambling to find a solution that all factions agree on to keep the government open beyond Sept. 30 — with opposition remaining to the GOP’s latest short-term continuing resolution agreement.

McCarthy has challenged far-right hardliners to try to remove him as president and vowed to shame anyone in his party who votes against keeping the government funded.

Critics, including firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz, attacked McCarthy’s leadership and demanded more concessions before supporting any bill.

Five rebels dealt McCarthy a blow Tuesday afternoon by breaking ranks and preventing advancement of a defense spending bill.

They were Reps. Andy Biggs, Arizona, Dan Bishop, North Carolina, Ken Buck, Colorado, Ralph Norman, SC, and Matt Rosendale, Montana.

“None of us support a shutdown,” said Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York. “I will not participate in it. I will do everything I can to prevent one. “There is certainly a level of frustration with what some of our colleagues are doing in terms of the way we negotiate within the conference “

Some wonder why GOP leaders introduced a bill they didn’t get the votes for — but others speculate the speaker might want to put conservative opponents on record for not supporting the troops.

The House erupted into chaos, with Democrats shouting “regular order” and GOP members saying the band of rebels had delivered China a “victory” by sinking the Pentagon’s 2024 budget.

The pressure is now mounting, as the failure of defense funding indicates that the spending battle is far from over.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell warned his House colleagues that shutdowns have “always been a lose-lose for Republicans — politically.”

“I don’t think anyone wants a shutdown. Think for a moment what a shutdown does: It stops paying our troops,” McCarthy said earlier, even as several members of the Freedom Caucus said they did not fear a government shutdown.

A furious Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., flanked by nearly a dozen Republican congressional veterans, accused those who voted against advancing the bill of being “Chinese sympathizers.” “.

“For political reasons, out of fear, they decided to vote against a rule to even allow this issue to be debated,” the former naval officer told reporters – noting that the bill overturns “reckless policies” of the Biden administration and gives junior enlisted troops their biggest pay raise ever.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., said he and his wife raised their family on food stamps while he was an active-duty Navy SEAL.

“Five members of the Republican conference just voted to ensure that our young recruits will always live below the poverty line,” he said.

“They should be held accountable for this.”

A group of Republicans who represent districts won by President Biden also asked reporters about the five opponents of the defense spending bill rule.

“None of us support a shutdown,” said Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York. “I will not participate in it. I will do everything I can to prevent one.

“There is certainly a level of frustration with what some of our colleagues are doing in terms of how we negotiate within the conference.”

“Right now, some people are holding (our) work hostage,” said Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, R-N.Y. “We do not support a government shutdown. We will not support a government shutdown.

After months of preparation, the House passed only one of the 12 appropriations bills it had pledged to pass – for military construction and Veterans Affairs. Even if they passed all 12, they would have to reconcile with the Senate, which has not passed any of them.

McCarthy warned House members they could stay through the weekend to try to pass more spending bills, while negotiators still work to gain support for a continuing resolution to short term presented by the right-wing House Freedom Caucus and the pragmatic conservative Main. Street caucus.

The short-term deal would have kept funding for Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at 2023 levels and triggered an 8% cut across all other agencies.

It would also institute the provisions of the House Republicans’ border bill, HR 2, in addition to E-Verify. The bill excludes funding for Ukraine and disaster relief.

The short-term continuing resolution (CR) would have pushed back the funding deadline to October 30, giving Congress an extra month to pass appropriations bills and fund the government for fiscal year 2024.

But it nonetheless sparked opposition from more than a dozen Republicans, largely within the Freedom Caucus, as those who worked on the deal demanded to know exactly what they wanted.

McCarthy, in a closed-door meeting, asked those who opposed the deal to come to Majority Whip Tom Emmer’s office and explain what they were opposed to.

A number of opponents were seen entering the whip’s office after the meeting to air their grievances.

If the short-term CR is adopted, it will be dead as soon as it arrives in the Senate. But House Republicans want to give the Senate a parting offer to implement in negotiations rather than the other way around.

Meanwhile, House Democrats are considering an opportunity to work with centrist Republicans to force a vote on a clean spending bill or continuing resolution. Using a discharge petition, an old procedure that rarely produces good results, they could force the vote if they have the support of all Democrats and at least five Republicans.

Even if a CR passes, Congress will then have to use the additional time to pass spending legislation for all of fiscal year 2024. It is unlikely that the House and Senate will ever reconcile 12 appropriations bills distinct, they should therefore move towards broader legislation. omnibus package that funds all agencies in a single up-or-down vote or longer-term continuing resolution.