‘Hell No’: Opposition to government funding grows 4 days from shutdown

• Republicans in both the House and Senate said they’ll vote no on the government funding package. Congress has four days left to approve a spending package or the federal government will shut down on Friday. 
• The bill increases military spending by $6 billion and decreases non-defense spending by $13 billion.
• Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said they will vote no, making the bill’s future unclear in a Congress with tight margins.

---

Full Story

The government funding package introduced by House Republicans on Saturday, March 8, appears to be on a path to failure as key Republicans announce their opposition. Congress has four days left to approve a spending package or the federal government will shut down Friday, March 14, at 11:59 pm. 

What is the bill?

The proposal introduced on Saturday is called a continuing resolution, or a near copy and paste of the current budget, that will last until Sept. 30. 

The bill increases military spending by $6 billion and decreases non-defense spending by $13 billion. 

House Democratic leadership already said their members will vote no, while President Donald Trump asked Republicans to fall in line. 

“We have to remain UNITED – NO DISSENT – Fight for another day when the timing is right,” Trump wrote on social media. “All Republicans should vote (Please!) YES.”

“The partisan House Republican funding bill recklessly cuts healthcare, nutritional assistance and $23 billion in veterans benefits,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., stated. “Equally troublesome, the legislation does nothing to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, while exposing the American people to further pain throughout this fiscal year.”

Who has said they won’t vote for it?

Republicans appear to have already lost one vote, which means they can’t lose another or the measure will fail.

“Unless I get a lobotomy Monday that causes me to forget what I’ve witnessed the past 12 years, I’ll be a NO on the CR this week,” Rep. Thomas, Massie, R-Ky., wrote on X. 

The House likely has one chance to hit a home run or they’re out because they are, in fact, out for the rest of the week. Democrats are hosting their annual retreat in Virginia so the current schedule has them voting on Tuesday night, March 11, then leaving.

What’s next for the bill?

If lawmakers approve the bill, the legislation then heads to the Senate, where it needs 60 votes. That will require at least seven Democrats to vote in favor, and they’re lining up in opposition. 

“This is a shutdown bill that’s bad for the economy—let Trump shutdown whatever he wants, hurting everyday folks to use money for tax breaks for the uber-rich,” Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., wrote on X. “Hell no!”

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., also said he is a “Hell no.” 

“The bill continues spending at the inflated pandemic levels and will add $2T to the debt this year,” Paul explained.

If the House passes the bill Tuesday night and the Senate makes any changes, the House will have to return to Washington to approve it again. This is because the two versions have to be identical before they are sent to the president.