McCarthy Threatens Senate Republicans on Budget Deal as Shutdown Deadline Approaches
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The House and Senate are moving towards passage of a $1.7 trillion federal budget, which would avoid a partial shutdown and fund the government through fiscal year 2023, but some House Republicans are seeking to unite their party against it.
Driving the News: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) — whose bid for House Speaker has faced internal party opposition — endorsed a message by 13 current and incoming House Republicans threatening to block future bills supported by any Republican senator who votes for the omnibus budget bill. “When I’m Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people,” McCarthy tweeted. Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, (D-Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) all support the budget bill.
Senate GOP Response: Senate Republicans reportedly brushed off McCarthy’s warning; Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said, “Hopefully cooler heads will prevail,” and Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said, “The reality is this kind of chest thumping and immaturity doesn’t instill confidence in their ability to lead.”
How the Media Covered It: Coverage across the spectrum was most common in outlets that focus on congressional politics. Some coverage from outlets of all bias ratings described McCarthy’s statement as a “threat” or a “warning.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
McCarthy takes a hard line against any senator who backs spending dealAs House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy forges ahead in his quest to secure 218 votes to be the next speaker of the House, he is vowing to take a hard line in the future against any GOP senator who votes to pass the $1.7 trillion spending bill this week.
McCarthy wrote on Twitter, “when I’m Speaker,” bills from any senator who votes for the spending package will be “dead on arrival” in the House of Representatives. He was responding to a letter from Rep. Chip Roy, a conservative who has not said yet...
From the Left
GOP senators brush off "silly" McCarthy budget threatSenate Republicans on Tuesday shrugged off a vow from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to block the legislative priorities of any GOP senator who votes for the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill.
Why it matters: Senate Republicans are saying what their House counterparts can't — that McCarthy's tough talk is intended to win over the conservatives whose votes he needs to become speaker and that he won't follow through.
What they're saying: In interviews with Axios, nearly a dozen Senate Republicans said McCarthy's threat is not to be taken seriously on their side...
From the Right
‘Dead on arrival’: McCarthy threatens to tank McConnell’s agenda if Senate GOP votes for omnibusHouse Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is threatening to tank the legislation of Senate Republicans who back the omnibus spending bill being considered this week, setting up a showdown with his counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
Bills from Republican senators, including McConnell himself, will be "dead on arrival" in the House under his speakership, McCarthy warned, throwing his weight behind a letter signed by 13 Republicans in the House vowing to whip against legislation from lawmakers who cast a "yes" vote later this week on the spending bill.
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