House GOP Considers Senate ‘Jam’ Strategy Following House CR Vote
House Republican leaders are reportedly considering a strategic move that would involve passing a seven-week stopgap funding measure by Friday and temporarily halting the House session until after the October 1 shutdown deadline. This maneuver is intended to ‘jam’ the Senate, leaving it with no viable alternative but to approve the GOP-led measure. Such a plan would effectively force the Senate to comply with the House’s funding proposal, potentially avoiding a government shutdown.
Democrats are pushing for their own alternative measure that incorporates the minority party’s policy priorities, though the Senate is expected to vote on the House-passed continuing resolution no earlier than next Thursday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated that there is ‘not much sentiment’ for allowing additional votes on the competing stopgap proposals from Republicans and Democrats. This suggests that the Senate may be reluctant to engage in further debate on the funding measures, particularly on Fridays, which are often reserved for less urgent legislative business.
Democrats Push for Immediate Vote on Their Alternative
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has floated the idea of voting on both bills, which would require consensus from every senator, indicating that the issue should be addressed immediately after the stopgap bill passes the House. This approach would allow Democrats to push their policy agenda while still adhering to the House’s funding measure. However, GOP senators are not in favor of additional votes, with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) stating, ‘There’s no reason in the world for us to give them a vote.’ This sentiment echoes a broader GOP resistance to actions that could be exploited by Democrats to criticize them for opposing the health care proposals in the Democratic alternative.
The ongoing budget showdown highlights the deepening partisan divide in Congress, with Republicans seeking to maintain control over the legislative process and Democrats attempting to assert their influence. The outcome of these negotiations could have significant implications for government operations and policy priorities across the country. As both parties prepare for potential confrontations, the situation remains fluid, and further developments are expected in the coming days.