GOP says it can pass short-term bill without Dems
WASHINGTON — Republicans said they would push a shortterm spending bill — essential to keeping the government open — through the House on Friday with only GOP votes, if necessary.
The brinkmanship came less than 30 hours before a midnight Friday deadline for a shutdown.
At the same time, a House GOP leader said late Thursday that there would be no vote on major GOP health care legislation until at least next week. That meant that on both the budget and health care fronts, there would be no milestone victories for Trump before Saturday, his 100th day as president.
“We’re working on the funding of government. We’re getting that through” on Friday, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said of the temporary spending measure.
Asked by reporters whether Republicans would have to pass the short-term bill without Democratic votes, McCarthy said, “Yeah.”
Democrats have threatened to oppose the temporary spending bill if there wasn’t a bipartisan deal on a $1 trillion measure financing the government through September. Final agreement on some loose ends in that massive measure has remained elusive.
Republicans had been hoping for Democratic support because a significant number of conservative GOP lawmakers often vote against spending legislation.
McCarthy told reporters late Thursday that the health care vote would not occur Friday or Saturday.
“As soon as we have the votes, we’ll vote on it,” he said after leaving a House GOP leadership meeting that lasted nearly two hours.
Across the Capitol, Senate Democrats late Thursday blocked a quick vote on a shortterm spending bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pressed for an agreement on the short-term legislation that will carry through next week. That would give lawmakers more time to complete negotiations on the $1 trillion measure.
Democratic leader Chuck Schumer insisted that any vote only occur when Republicans abandon efforts to add provisions on abortion, financial regulations and the environment to the legislation.