The House Freedom Caucus, a group of around four dozen conservative members, has blocked House Republicans' short-term funding bill, likely leading to a government shutdown. The rebels are pushing for steep spending cuts and are unconcerned with the potential shutdown. As a result, Republicans are without a game plan to avert the shutdown, which is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday.
Posts tagged as “the House Freedom Caucus”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces a difficult challenge as the House of Representatives returns from its summer recess this week, with a looming government shutdown deadline of September 30th. The situation has been complicated by the House Freedom Caucus, led by Rep. Ken Buck, who has dismissed fellow caucus member Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's comments on a timeline for an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Rep. French Hill of Arkansas has said he would support a spending bill to fund the government through October, but it is unclear how the House Freedom Caucus will respond and whether McCarthy will be able to find a solution that satisfies both sides.
The House Freedom Caucus has declared that they will not support a temporary spending bill unless it includes language on border security, new laws to address the “weaponization” of the Justice Department and FBI, and a shift in some of the Pentagon’s policies. This announcement has increased the chances of a government shutdown, as the provisions they are demanding are likely to be opposed by Senate Democrats and the White House. The Freedom Caucus has been a powerful force in the House since 2015, and their latest statement makes it clear that they will not support any bill that does not include their demands.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) sparked controversy on the House floor when he referred to non-white Americans serving in the U.S. military as “colored people” while proposing an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) argued that Crane's language was "offensive and unacceptable" and that it was "unfortunate that we have to debate an amendment that seeks to limit the progress of people of color and women." Crane argued that his amendment was meant to ensure that recruitment and promotion decisions were based on merit, rather than on any other ideological concepts. The amendment was ultimately voted down, highlighting the ongoing struggle to ensure that recruitment and promotion decisions in the military are based on merit.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has been removed from the House Freedom Caucus, a group of conservative lawmakers founded in 2015 to advance conservative policies. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) made definitive comments on the matter during an appearance on NBC News' “Meet the Press NOW”. Greene, however, said she had not been informed of her ousting and was not concerned about it. Despite her removal, Greene said she had no time for the “drama club” and was not concerned about her ousting from the Freedom Caucus.
House members returned to Washington Tuesday to begin a three-week stint at the Capitol, but confusion remains over Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's membership in the House Freedom Caucus. Members of the right-wing group have refused to comment on the matter, and Greene herself is unsure of her status. Despite the three-week session, the issue is likely to remain unresolved until the House takes a six-week break at the end of the month.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) confirmed that a vote was taken to remove Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) from the House Freedom Caucus, an ultraconservative Republican group. Chairman Scott Perry, R-Pa., has not directly notified Greene of the decision, but has had multiple conversations with her since the June 23 Freedom Caucus meeting. Greene has been the subject of controversy due to her past comments and social media posts, and the vote is the latest development in the ongoing saga.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus, a far-right faction of the House of Representatives, have stalled proceedings in the chamber in protest of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's compromise with President Joe Biden on “debt ceiling” legislation. The group, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), has blocked several bills backed by GOP leadership and has called for the House to “hold the floor” in protest. This disruption has put the GOP majority in a difficult situation, and it is unclear how long the group will continue to stall proceedings.