Jeffries is urging House Republicans to bring the temporary spending measure from the Senate to the floor.
House Republicans are being urged by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to back the Senate’s temporary spending bill in order to prevent a government shutdown on Saturday.
On Thursday, he mentioned that there is currently a bipartisan bill progressing through the United States Senate, which will be approved with strong bipartisan support.
“They will subsequently forward the bill to the House of Representatives. Radical MAGA Republicans have a straightforward decision to make: Present the bipartisan continuing resolution in the house for a direct vote. This way, we can prevent the occurrence of an extreme MAGA Republican shutdown.”
On Wednesday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reiterated his insistence that Democrats must agree to include border security in a temporary spending bill in order to prevent a government shutdown this weekend.
He suggested that President Biden should initiate discussions regarding the Republicans’ intentions to secure the border and maintain government operations, rather than the other way around.
“I am requesting the president to have a discussion because the Senate has failed to fulfill their responsibilities,” stated Mr. McCarthy, a Republican from California. “The Senate has not addressed the work done by the House, therefore, it is necessary for the president to intervene and take action. Otherwise, there will be a government shutdown.”
SEE ALSO: Divided House has no clear stopgap bill as shutdown looms
Mr. Jeffries responded by stating that Democrats will not assist Republicans in passing a continuing resolution that includes any partisan policy amendments.
“I cannot reword”
The Democrat from New York also presented the discharge petition from his caucus as a possible solution for Republicans to prevent a government shutdown.
A discharge petition is a procedural tactic that allows the majority of the lower chamber to circumvent the speaker and compel a floor vote on a bill.
The Democrats have already initiated a plan to temporarily fund the government, backed by 213 signatures from their caucus. They only require the support of five Republicans to proceed with the proposal.
Reps. Mike Lawler, Marc Molinaro, both New York Republicans representing Biden-won 2020 districts, and Rep. Don Bacon, Nebraska Republican, have all expressed interest in supporting this provision.
Mr. Jeffries doubts the sincerity of any GOP lawmaker in regards to that matter.
“He stated that there is no evidence indicating that Mike Lawler or any of the self-proclaimed moderate Republicans in New York or elsewhere in the country are willing to collaborate with House Democrats in order to resolve the ongoing crisis caused by the extreme MAGA Republican shutdown.”
Supporters of the discharge petition face an uphill battle. The measure won’t make it to the floor before Saturday’s deadline.
Once a discharge petition gathers 218 signatures, House rules mandate a seven-day waiting period before a legislator can proceed with it.
