(NewsReady.com) – Congress has until September 30 to pass a government funding bill or face a shutdown. Republicans in the House are currently preventing resolutions from moving through leading Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to issue a warning to members of his own party.
On September 19, McConnell held his weekly press conference where he discussed the possibility of a government shutdown. He said the Senate minority was waiting to see what the House was going to do about passing a continuing resolution. He told the press that they all know he’s “not a fan of government shutdowns” saying he’s seen his share of them and “they have never produced a policy change.”
McConnell then warned conservatives that shutdowns have “always been a loser for Republicans, politically.”
He also showed his support for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) saying his colleague is “trying to avoid a government shutdown.” He continued, saying the Senate is “pulling for the speaker” and hopes lawmakers can move forward.
Two days after the press conference, McCarthy brought a military funding bill to the floor for a vote. For the second time, the bill failed. Lawmakers then left town for the weekend without a resolution in sight.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) spoke to NBC News, saying his caucus is “very dysfunctional right now.” He slammed McCarthy and the whip, saying it’s obvious that Conservative leaders “can’t count” votes. He compared it to the way former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was able to rally her party, saying whether people “love her or hate her, she put something out there and [Democrats would] rally around it.”
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) called the issues in his party a “clown show.” He said Republicans who are blocking the bills should know that if they’re “unable or unwilling to govern, others will.” He went on to say that “throwing a temper tantrum” and refusing to do anything is “pathetic.”
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