House Republicans Prepare to Turn US Government Shutdown Into Immigration Clash
In our fractured system, where the legislative branch has outright refused to fulfill its basic duties, temporary patches have a way of becoming permanent. That’s why Congress has passed continuing resolutions and omnibuses instead of real budgets for 27 years. That’s why, in a party as ideologically disparate as the GOP, a speaker tempore wielding all the power of a speaker could become standard fare.
The U.S. economy is walking on thin ice. If prices and inflation don’t come down soon, something that can only occur if Congress and the White House reduce spending, then the U.S. is soon going to find itself in yet another massive economic crisis.
House Republicans are preparing to turn an impending government shutdown into a clash with Democrats over border enforcement as New York, Chicago and other major cities struggle with a migrant influx.
The approach is intended to temporarily set aside differences among GOP lawmakers over how deeply and where to cut federal spending while maintaining a collision course with Democrats that risks shutting down the US government on Oct. 1.
Architects of the plan hope the cause will have broader public appeal as concerns about immigration rise in new areas of the country.
Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams said this month an increase in migration would “destroy” his city, seeking federal support as Republican governors bus migrants into northern cities.
Those concerns, key Republicans argue, will better position the party’s rank-and-file lawmakers to withstand backlash against any interruption of government services and improve the House GOP’s chances of wringing concessions from President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats.
It also heightens the risk of double-barrel shutdowns. First, an October standoff focused on immigration policy demands to open up about a month of funding for the government. Then, more fiscal showdowns as soon as November that wrap in conflicts over federal spending before Congress approves annual funding for the government.
Read more: New York Leads Big Cities’ Anger Over Biden’s Border Response
Members of House Republicans’ ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus and more-moderate Main Street Caucus have been coalescing around the immigration-focused strategy in closed-door meetings over recent days. Leaders of the factions have been trying to hammer out a unified position for House Republicans going into a fight over temporary funding to keep the government operating beyond Sept. 30.
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