As of last week, the lack of funding for DHS marked the longest funding lapse ever in Washington after the political fight entered its ninth week.
The funding disagreement is largely between Republicans in the House, led by House Speaker Mike Johnson, and GOP lawmakers in Senate led by Majority Leader John Thune.
The Hill reported Monday the Senate is expected to vote this week on a budget blueprint for a second reconciliation bill. The article said Thune is battling with “hardline” conservatives who want a broader, more ambitious reconciliation bill.
With a narrow majority, however, Thune is pushing a “skinny” bill that he believes has a better chance of passage.
A bigger issue lurking in the background, the article said, is the coming midterm elections and the possibility Republicans lose one or both chambers in November. That flip in political power, and agenda, is why some GOP lawmakers are urging for passage of big legislation, such as the SAVE America Act.
Other legislation GOP senators want in the bill are defense spending and extending the moratorium on federal payments to Planned Parenthood, The Hill has also reported.
Speaking to “Washington Watch” on Friday, from the House floor, Rep. Roger Aderholt (R-AL) placed the biggest blame on Democrats — whose radical base wants them to punish ICE — but described a struggle in the Senate over the next step.
“We have agreed on the House side,” Aderholt advised. “We've sent it over to the Senate, and the Senate's holding it up.”
Looking at the next step, which he called a possible “solution” but not a good one, Aderholt agreed with the White House push for a reconciliation bill that bypasses the Senate’s cherished filibuster rule.
“I have mixed emotions over that,” the Congressman acknowledged. “I think that’s probably what we’ll end up doing, and it may be the only option we have.”
The truth is, he continued, the Senate needs to “pass something” even if that procedural move bypasses the appropriations process.
“So it's not a perfect solution, but at least it will open up the department,” he told the program.
The Hill reported that Sen. Ted Cruz is among the “hardline” senators urging Thune to swing for the fences politically while the GOP still controls both chambers.
“Do we swing for the fences and get victories, economic victories that we can campaign on and win elections in November? Or do we play small ball?” Cruz said.
