Does Trump Care More About America Than Biden?
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The federal government is on the brink of a shutdown in just three days, with Congress yet to reach a consensus on future budget allocations or secure the necessary votes for a temporary extension.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy is at the heart of this impasse. Contrary to Senate leaders, McCarthy has predominantly resisted passing spending bills with bipartisan support. Given the narrow Republican majority in the House, McCarthy can’t afford to lose more than five votes. However, several conservative members have been reluctant to back bills that don’t fully align with their preferences.
Despite the historical criticism Republicans have received for previous government shutdowns, McCarthy and his colleagues are pointing fingers at President Joe Biden for the potential shutdown. They overlook that it’s Congress’s duty to fund the government. The Senate is working towards approving a “continuing resolution” (CR) to delay the shutdown by maintaining the current funding levels and also extending support for the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Yet, a significant portion of House Republicans is against aiding Ukraine, preferring to allocate funds for border security in their version of the CR.
The border-related measures proposed by the Republicans lack broad support and are unlikely to get the Senate’s nod. Without a mutual agreement between the two chambers, a government shutdown is imminent. Since McCarthy’s statements, the GOP leadership has been amplifying this narrative.
