House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), 58, pulled a rabbit out of his hat, passing a 45-day stopgap spending bill to give the government new life at least for another month-and-a-half. McCarthy battled at least 21 members of the ultraconservative Freedom Caucus led by 41-year-old firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl.) who threatened to invoke the GOP’s one-man recall vote on McCarthy for displeasing the extreme right wing of the GOP. McCarthy stepped up to the plate at the 11th hour, only hours before the government was set to shutdown Oct. 1. Democrats and Republicans haggled over the $5.8 trillion federal budget that included $24 billion in spending for the Ukraine War. But in McCarthy’s new budget now going to the Senate for passage, no new Ukraine spending is authorized for the next 45 days, something that must be negotiated before a Nov. 17 deadline.
McCarthy’s remarkable feat shunned efforts by Gaetz and the Freedom Caucus to shutdown the U.S. government, primarily over Ukraine funding and a lack of border funding. “We’re going to do our job,” McCarthy said, after an overwhelming House vote [335-91] that included unanimous Democrat support. “We’re going to be adults in the room. And we’re going to keep the government open,” sending a loud message to Gaetz and other Freedom Caucus members that they must put the American public first over their personal self-interests. Without McCarthy’s new deal, 2 million active-duty and reserve military would lose their paychecks, including thousands of Transportation Security personnel and other federal workers. During the next 45 days the White House, House and Senate Democrats and Republicans will have to take budget negotiations seriously or end up stalemated.
Democrats wanted to include $6 billion in Ukraine funding, only recently meeting with 45-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. House and Senate war hawks, both Democrats and Republicans, would toss the American public under the bus to continue their obsession with battling Russia. Zelensky told U.S. leaders that without winning the Ukraine War with U.S. funding, Russian President Vladimir Putin would takeover Europe and start WW III. What kind of argument is that? Zelenskly surely knows that NATO, not bankrupt and war-torn Ukraine, defends Europe since 1949. Putin has shown zero interest in taking on NATO, contrary to Zelensky’s arguments. So when it comes to Ukraine funding, growing numbers of Republicans and some Democrats, want a ceiling on U.S.-Ukraine funding. McCarthy and other Republicans have vowed no blank check for Kiev.
McCarthy worked in overdrive against the wishes of his radical right wing, led by Gaetz and other Freedom Caucus members. “The American people deserve better,” said Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), blasting the Freedom Caucus for trying to shut down the government. Democrats joined McCarthy’s stopgap bill in overwhelming numbers, eventually passing the new spending bill easily. Whether Gaetz follows through with his threat to oust McCarthy is anyone’s guess. “If somebody wants to remove me because I want to be the adult in the room, go ahead and try,” McCarthy challenged Gaetz or other members of the Freedom caucus. McCarthy showed his “profile in courage,” breaking through conservative threats to do what’s right for the American public. Whether admitted or not, the Freedom Caucus got its wish to stop Ukraine funding.
Getting the stopgap spending bill, McCarthy knows it must gain Senate approval, something that should happen with the Democrat-controlled Senate looking to avert the shutdown. “Our options are slipping away every minute,” said senior Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fl.), urging colleagues to accept McCarthy’s House bill. Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a big Ukraine supporter, said he would work in the coming six-weeks to restore funding. McConnell, who’s suffered some bizarre neurological events recently where he freezes while talking, backs Biden’s Ukraine War, a carryover from his Neocon days. When the clock starts ticking again, Biden would be well-advised to invite McCarthy to the White House to negotiate responsible budget cuts to help save the U.S. economy. Many economists worry that current spending levels are not sustainable in today’s economy.
McCarthy showed Democrats that he’s a true patriot who puts country over party to avert an unnecessary government shutdown. Listening to Trump and other conservatives advocate for a shutdown, shows that McCarthy led from both sides of the aisle. “All of us have a responsibility to lead and to govern,” said Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), backing McCarthy’s attempt to keep the government open. Previewing the expected battle in the next 45 days, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Il.) lamented the lack of funding for Ukraine in McCarthy’s bill. Co-chair of the Ukraine Caucus, Quigley called McCarthy’s bill a victory for Vladimir Putin and “Putin sympathizers everywhere,” showing his loyalty to Ukraine not the U.S. Congress or economy. Quigley mirrors the kind of White House brainwashing telling Congress that without Ukraine War funding, Putin would take over Europe or start WW III.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
