Should the Republicans retake the U.S. House of Representatives in next week's midterm elections, they will still have to deal with a Nancy Pelosi-led House through the end of the year.
Among the items a potential lame-duck Congress will have to tackle is funding the government when the current continuing resolution expires on December 3.
That is a concern for U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover), the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee.
During an interview with Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5 on Monday, Palmer said he did not have faith in Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) to hold the line against an overreaching Democrat caucus in the Senate.
He also said to watch for "horse-trading" as the holiday recesses approach and Congress is forced to move to fund the government.
"I have zero confidence in Manchin," Palmer said. "And very little confidence in Sinema because they both capitulated when it really got tough. And if Manchin is the best negotiator that the Democrats have, I don't want him negotiating for me. I mean, the man had all the cards on the table and just caved on that so-called Inflation Reduction Act. He's not going to get anything for it.
"But as far as the lame-duck session goes – that always worries me, regardless of who is in charge because that's when you have all these people doing horse-trading to get that keeps the government funded. And I think you're aware that we passed a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through about the middle of December. That's just a game that Pelosi plays. They'll hold us up with the threat of holding us through Christmas or whatever to try to get us to vote for bad things in an appropriations bill.
"And from my perspective, I'll call her bluff on Christmas and raise her New Year's. I don't care. I don't think we should allow them to get away with stuffing more economy-killing policies into an appropriations bill."
Jeff Poor is the executive editor of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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