House Republicans huddle on Tuesday morning as they seek a path forward on their six-month government funding patch that’s already a non-starter in the Senate.
It’s already running into major roadblocks — at least six GOP lawmakers indicated to our Jordain Carney and Olivia Beavers they’d oppose the short-term continuing resolution, even though the patch includes a long-sought provision requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote (otherwise known as the SAVE Act).
With a vote envisioned for Wednesday, a razor-thin Republican majority and Democrats broadly opposed to the GOP-led push, it’s unclear if Speaker Mike Johnson can muster the Republican votes to get the initial stopgap off the floor. The family discussion may offer some indication of a path forward, but some are already grousing about leadership’s approach.
“Our own leadership has pre-negotiated its surrender on the SAVE Act and they already know they’ll cave on it and accept a ‘Clean CR’ from [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer,” wrote Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). “Hard to get inspired to run into a fight when the surrender has already been choreographed.”
The other X factor? Despite being out of Washington for more than a month, dozens of House lawmakers missed their return votes on Monday night. The exact number of available votes will determine how many Johnson and leadership can ultimately lose on the floor to get their first spending proposal through.
Two other things of note: A bipartisan group of congressional leaders will award Congressional Gold Medals honoring the 13 U.S. servicemembers killed in the Kabul airport terrorist attack in 2021 at 11 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda.
And former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) appears before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic at 2 p.m. to testify on his state’s response to the Covid pandemic.
Further business: The Senate will hold votes throughout the day on more of President Joe Biden’s judicial nominees. The House will consider legislation restricting Homeland Security funds for higher education institutions that receive financial support from Confucius Institutes.