Key Freedom Caucus Member Predicts House GOP Will Miss Government Funding Goals
A leading member of the House Freedom Caucus predicts that his Republican colleagues will end up having to swallow a huge “omnibus” spending bill to fund the government in fiscal year 2024.
Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., an outgoing House lawmaker who has served since 2015, said the House GOP will likely fall short of its goal of passing 12 individual appropriations bills to fund the government, citing the widespread fractures within the conference.
“I don’t think we have the votes in the House to adopt conservative policies because moderates will vote against it, or the levels of spending that moderates want because conservatives will vote against it,” Buck told Fox News Digital. .
“So we’re still deadlocked, and the leadership needs – and I think they’ve shown this several times – they need Democratic votes to get spending bills passed, and that will require a couple of minibuses or a bus at some point. point el the next year.”
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Rep. Ken Buck, R-Colo., is one of eight House Republicans who voted to impeach former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. (Getty Images)
Buck was one of eight House Republicans who voted to unseat former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., over his handling of the government funding debate.
When asked if Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is faring better, Buck argued that Johnson’s recently passed continuing resolution (CR), which extends last year’s government funding levels for a short time, is still is at a lower upper number than that established by the bipartisan agreement on the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) reached by McCarthy and President Biden.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is “doing the right thing, trying to keep the government open and working the numbers as best he can, and I think people understand that he’s acting with good intentions.” Buck said.
“The clean CR is at a lower level than the FRA figures. So, in my opinion, if we end up with a CR by 2024, it is not ideal, but it is a better number than if we had the agreement that McCarthy prepared. “Buck said.
“I’ve heard some members talk about, you know, ‘This will be strike three’ or something like that. I just think Kevin had a long history with people reaching a breaking point. Mike is doing the right thing, trying to keep the ball rolling. open government and work with the numbers as best he can, and I think people understand that he is acting with good intentions,” he explained when asked if Johnson’s job would be in jeopardy if he, too, dissatisfied Republican lawmakers.
HOUSE APPROVES LAW TO AVOID GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, PRESIDENT JOHNSON ACHIEVES FIRST MAJOR LEGISLATIVE VICTORY
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., was removed primarily as speaker for his handling of the fight over government funding. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Current government funding runs out in two installments, thanks to a two-tier interim funding bill passed by Congress last month. Appropriations bills relating to military construction and Veterans Affairs; Agriculture; Energy and Water; Transport; and Housing and Urban Development must be addressed by Jan. 19, while the remaining eight appropriations bills must be crafted by Feb. 2.
“I think it’s better than getting bogged down on Christmas Day with bills that, you know, need to be passed. So I think it’s a more rational time frame,” Buck said. “But I still don’t think we have the votes to pass the kind of numbers we want, with the kind of policies we want.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Johnson’s office for comment.
