House GOP leaders plot to avert shutdown, but may need Democrats

House GOP leaders are forging ahead with a spending strategy that has drawn flak from far-right members, making it increasingly likely that they will need help from Democrats to avert a shutdown.

One week before a key funding deadline, Speaker Paul Ryan confirmed to members Friday in a Republican Conference meeting that the House will vote on two separate short-term spending bills — one through Dec. 22 and another through January.

If more than two dozen of the House GOP’s far-right flank oppose the strategy, Ryan would need to lean on Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for votes. That trade-off would almost certainly require the GOP to make painful concessions in a spending deal, like bigger boosts for domestic programs.

GOP leaders explicitly warned during the closed-door meeting that they would need to seek help from Democrats if their own members voted against keeping the government open.

Democrats are so far refusing to commit to helping Republicans pass a spending bill, ticking off a list of long-simmering political issues like protections for Dreamers, or young undocumented immigrants, and funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

“We have no resolve on CHIP, we have no resolve on the Dreamers, so without any of that resolved, why, why would I vote for an extension?” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told POLITICO. “I’m going to wait and see what we’ve got.”


House Republicans began whipping the votes Friday morning, with a vote tentatively planned for Wednesday — two days before the Dec. 8 deadline.

Rogers acknowledged that Democrats would likely be needed in next week’s vote, though House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) disputed the idea.

“Let’s give the leadership some opportunity to talk to some of the members,” he said.

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/...99505?lo=ap_b1

No deal, no extension!

This is getting good !

Also the Freedom Caucus has already expressed they are not interested in passing a short term bill either.

I hope this really happens for us! December 8th is next Friday.

Me too red pikachu, can't wait anymore.

That, my friend, is a Charzard.

We have good momentum, we need to stick with Dec. 8 and not do the extension that can possibly change every

I'm not usually a Debbie Downer, I swear... but playing Devil's advocate here.

What if the Freedom Caucus, in this Political climate, decide to vote for it just to stick it to the Democrats for posturing? In other words, what if the GOP unites to defeat a common enemy by any means necessary?

Two short term extensions and then the final vote on a spending bill. Will Dems hold back votes on the first extension or not without DA attached?! This is nerve wrecking.

They would still need democrats to pass it in the senate. It requires 60 votes and they only have 52.