House Votes Against Spending Bill as Shutdown Deadline Approaches
Summary from AllSides News Team
The House of Representatives failed to pass a short-term spending bill Friday to avert a government shutdown this weekend.
Details: With 21 Republican representatives voting against the bill that would have funded the government for an additional 31 days, the vote failed with 232 opposed and 198 in favor. While the vote is being deemed a “failure” for House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) by outlets across the spectrum, there is a broad consensus that the bill had no chance of clearing the Democrat-majority Senate and receiving the signature of President Joe Biden.
Key Quotes: “The No. 1 thing I want here is for government not to shut down,” McCarthy told reporters before the failed vote. Following the vote, McCarthy told reporters he would continue working into the weekend to avert a shutdown, stating, “You have watched me time and again, have you ever known me to quit after one time if it doesn’t succeed? I don’t stop.”
How the Media Covered It: Coverage across the spectrum framed the failed vote as a personal failure for McCarthy. The failed vote was deemed an “embarrassing” defeat for McCarthy by The Hill (Center bias), and a “major blow to GOP leadership” by the Washington Examiner (Lean Right). The New York Times (Lean Left bias) wrote that McCarthy’s speakership “has spun out of his control” and the failed vote “showed his weakness.” Coverage across the spectrum also determined this failed vote all but guarantees a government shutdown beginning this weekend.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
With a Shutdown in View, McCarthy Plays a Weak Hand
When Representative Kevin McCarthy was short the votes he needed to become speaker in January, he didn’t browbeat his far-right Republican detractors or threaten retribution. Instead, he granted them major concessions, subjecting himself to a long, humiliating slog to win them over.
Mr. McCarthy is now facing a near-certain government shutdown and a possible move by the same faction to oust him from his post if he moves to head off the crisis. And he is turning to the same people-pleasing script, seeking to mollify a faction of his conference...
From the Center
House GOP tanks its own funding bill, edging closer to shutdown
A band of House conservatives Friday voted down a GOP bill to avoid a government shutdown.
The vote marked a significant — and embarrassing — defeat for Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) as a shutdown this weekend appears increasingly inevitable.
More than 20 Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the legislation, bringing the final tally to 232-198.
The 21 GOP lawmakers who voted against the bill were: Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Dan Bishop (N.C.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Eric Burlison (Mo.), Michael Cloud (Texas), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Matt Gaetz...
From the Right
House shoots down stopgap spending measure, making weekend shutdown more likely
The House shot down a stopgap spending measure that would temporarily fund the government for 31 days, leaving the lower chamber without a viable proposal to begin negotiations with the Senate less than 48 hours before federal funding is set to lapse.
Lawmakers voted 198-232 to advance the $1.471 trillion legislation, falling short of the majority vote needed to send the bill over to the Senate. The failure deals a major blow to GOP leadership, making it all the more likely Congress won’t come to an agreement on spending legislation...
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