U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) recently joined in a letter with the House Freedom Caucus opposing a temporary measure to prevent a government shutdown.
The U.S. Government is slated for a shutdown by the end of the week unless Congress can agree on a series of spending packages currently causing turmoil on Capitol Hill.
The U.S. Senate and House must pass 12 spending bills by the end of the week or force a government shutdown, but several House Republicans have refused to approve any bills without spending cuts and a focus on border security.
The appropriation bills include $1.59 trillion in discretionary spending in the 2024 fiscal year. House Republicans are demanding another $120 billion in cuts, plus legislation to slow the flow of illegal immigration at the Southern border.
The Senate recently proposed a continuing resolution to fund the government through November 17 until both houses reach an agreement on appropriations. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said he does not plan to support the Senate's bill and intends to present a stopgap bill of his own in the House. However, any bill that will assuage the concerns of House Republicans is almost certainly destined to fail in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Over two dozen House Freedom Caucus members recently sent a letter to McCarthy, saying they would vote against the Senate's temporary measure and any stopgap approach until McCarthy answers specific questions.
27 Members of the House Freedom Caucus urgently request basic information and a clear plan from Speaker McCarthy on the path forward to pass appropriations.
— House Freedom Caucus (@freedomcaucus) September 28, 2023
Members need answers to these reasonable questions before even considering a stop-gap funding measure. pic.twitter.com/L8tEgKA8g7
Hardline House Republicans say they will oppose any stopgap measures, wanting instead to pass the spending bills for the entire year. The Senate continuing resolution, approved by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-Ky), contains an additional $6 billion in additional funding for Ukraine, an undesirable inclusion for the caucus.
The Freedom Caucus's letter asks McCarthy to denounce the Senate's continuing resolution and demands answers on the appropriations process leading up to the expiration of government funding on October 1.
"No Member of Congress can or should be expected to consider supporting a stop-gap funding measure without answers to these reasonable questions," the letter reads.
Moore joined the letter, saying he intends to work with lawmakers on passing appropriations but wants reasonable cuts to "reckless" spending.
"I am committed to working in good faith with my colleagues across the conference to advance appropriations, but I want an update on where we're at and where we're going," Moore said. "I stand with my fellow colleagues in the House Freedom Caucus on our mission to cut reckless federal spending and get real wins for the American people."
McCarthy has run afoul of Freedom Caucus members since day one. The looming government shutdown has also stirred up speculation that some House Republicans plan to attempt to replace McCarthy as speaker.
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