GOP hunts for Democratic votes to avoid government shutdown
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House Republicans are planning to pressure vulnerable Democrats to help them pass a short-term funding bill next week.
Why it matters: GOP leaders are talking big about passing a government funding bill with just Republican votes, probably in the House but definitely in the Senate.
- "I think the 13 Democrats sitting in Trump seats ought to think twice about shutting down Trump's government," Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, told reporters.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) will be on the hunt for at least eight Democrats to overcome a filibuster.
Driving the news: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has decided to try to pass a "clean continuing resolution," which would fund the government through Sept. 30 without any significant policy changes. He says President Trump is on board.
- Trump and Johnson are pulling out all the stops to convince potential holdout Republicans to support a funding bill this time.
- "But I think once people understand the necessity of it, I think they'll get on board and we'll pass it," Johnson told reporters Tuesday.
The goal is to drive up the number of Republican votes to help insulate themselves from blame if the government does shut down. The higher the number of GOP "yeas," the more insurance they think they are buying.
- Elon Musk will pay a visit to the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with House Republicans. Trump will have a separate meeting with House Freedom Caucus members.
Zoom in: Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Rep Andy Harris (R-Md.), the HFC chair, indicated to Johnson and Thune on Tuesday afternoon they would lay down their arms on this spending fight.
- "We stand ready to work with you to ensure the government remains open in a way that preserves President Trump's options to root out wasteful government spending and fully continues DOGE's important work," they wrote.
The bottom line: The conservatives added a warning, hinting they would oppose any legislation that tried to undermine Musk's and Trump's DOGE efforts.
- "We will not support a government funding package that would be weaponized against President Trump at the very moment he is seeking to make good on the promises he made to the American people."
