A small group of House conservatives is threatening to stall much of the Republican legislative agenda this week by opposing a procedural rule vote over concerns with a Senate-passed stopgap funding bill.
The continuing resolution, which the House is scheduled to consider Tuesday under suspension of the rules, would extend current government funding levels through Dec. 11 and avert a shutdown ahead of the November midterm elections. It requires a two-thirds majority for passage but does not need a rule vote itself.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) told reporters Monday that he plans to vote against the rule in an effort to freeze other legislation from advancing. He cited several provisions in the measure, including a delay on a ban for certain hemp products and the lack of language to restrict federal funding for Planned Parenthood. Roy called for either a clean continuing resolution or an opportunity to attach his priorities.
Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.), chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, also signaled opposition to the rule Tuesday morning, focusing on the hemp ban delay. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) joined the dissent, saying he too would vote no on the rule.
The hardliners are unlikely to block the funding extension but could effectively halt Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) ability to move other bills by defeating the rule. The Senate version of the stopgap emerged from bipartisan negotiations and includes additional funding for housing and nutrition programs along with a temporary block on a White House proposal to give political appointees greater control over federal grants.
House Republicans have expressed frustration with extending the status quo without policy changes on issues like abortion funding and regulatory matters. The move comes as Congress seeks to clear the funding deadline before lawmakers return to their districts for the campaign season.
Leadership has not yet indicated how it will respond to the internal resistance, though the narrow GOP majority leaves little room for defections on procedural matters.
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