As the federal government’s funding deadline of September 30th approaches, several conservative members of Congress have advocated for another government shutdown, calling it a positive thing.
As reported by Politico, some of the most conservative members of the House of Representatives have floated the idea in recent weeks. Congressman Bob Good (R-Va.) said last week that if the federal government were to shut down, “most Americans won’t even miss” it.
Following the debt ceiling showdown earlier this year, during which a compromise bill was passed that temporarily gave the government unlimited spending powers in exchange for small cuts, conservatives have suggested that the threat of a shutdown could be used to extract further fiscal concessions from the Democrats. Despite House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) insistence that there will not be a shutdown, conservatives have threatened the possibility in order to get spending reductions out of the 11 spending bills that still need to be passed before the September deadline.
“I wouldn’t consign us to that just yet,” said Congressman Dan Bishop (R-N.C.). “I never take lightly that step.”
Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) expressed his belief that the GOP should try to negotiate spending cuts to the tune of at least $100 billion.
“We’ll see how those negotiations go,” said Clyde. “I think folks in leadership are taking us seriously.”
“Obviously, you gotta get to 218 [votes]. You can’t cut programs to the bone and expect all the members to jump on,” said Congressman Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), adding that some members are suddenly tossing out their own demands at the last moment and refusing to negotiate further. “We had member hearings. And no one showed up.”
Once Congress returns from the current recess, lawmakers will have just 12 business days to pass the 11 remaining appropriations bills before September 30th.