Congressional Republicans, led in the House by Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have yet to move on any major spending-related legislation – which may very well be key in following through on some of President Trump's top priorities. (Getty Images)
"I think we’re looking at a CR," lamented one veteran House Republican close to the spending process.
To the uninitiated, a "CR," is Congress-speak for a "continuing resolution." It is a stopgap bill to fund the government at present levels – without initiating any new programs or spending.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., got into trouble with conservatives for approving a CR to avert a shutdown in September 2023. Johnson seized the gavel in the fall of 2023, promising to do individual spending bills. But Johnson’s struggled to do that, too.
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Some members of the Freedom Caucus oppose voting for any interim spending bills like a CR. So what are House Republicans to do?
Multiple rank-and-file Republicans observed that the House could have tried to knock out a few bills since Congress returned to session in early January. But that hasn’t happened. This comes as House Republicans huddle at President Trump’s golf club in Doral, Fla. The focus of the meeting is to figure out concrete plans for the GOP’s "big, beautiful bill" to cut taxes and slash government spending. But because of so much attention on that measure, some Republicans fret the appropriations clashes have been all but forgotten.
Until they aren’t.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has been asked about what his party may press Republicans for if they help avert a shutdown. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
But Jeffries played it cool.
"Republicans have not opened up any line of communication with us. And they've made clear to America that they have a big, massive, beautiful mandate, which presumably means to us that they intend to pass a spending agreement on their own to avoid a government shutdown on their own and to raise the debt ceiling on their own," said Jeffries. "It's not hard to find me. They know where I'm at. They know my number. I haven't received a single call about a single one of these issues."
The GOP is trained on the BBB and not on government funding. Even some GOP members suggested Republicans should have remained in session in Washington rather than heading to southern Florida for their retreat and a meeting with President Trump.
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Republicans have blamed Democrats when they’ve had issues advancing spending bills when they’ve controlled the Senate. That’s because it takes 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Senate Democrats won’t be keen to help on any spending or debt ceiling bill unless they secure major wins.
But when it comes to the blame game, Republicans cannot cast aspersions at Democrats for not helping out this round. The GOP has crowed about its majority and its "mandate" to govern in the House. It’s the responsibility of Republicans to get the votes to fund the government and avoid a debt ceiling crisis. The Republican track record of getting unanimity on their side is virtually unheard of.
That means the GOP likely needs help from Democrats to govern.
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And Democrats could request a king’s ransom.
If they’re ever asked.
Chad Pergram currently serves as a senior congressional correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). He joined the network in September 2007 and is based out of Washington, D.C.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/spending-showdown-republicans-need-corral-votes-havent-asked-yet