New polling shows that a plurality of Americans are supportive of at least a ‘partial government shutdown’ until Congressional Republicans and Democrats can either agree to cut spending or at least keep it at its currently level.
The Rasmussen Reports poll of 1,020 Likely Voters found that only 40 percent of respondents opposed a government shutdown, while 48 percent were supportive. In addition, 63 percent of voters believe that any new spending bill should include provisions to increase border security.
Negotiations among Republican members of the House of Representatives have come to a standstill after a temporary spending measure negotiated by Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) – and backed by Freedom Caucus stalwart Chip Roy (R-TX) – fell apart with several other conservative factions still opposing.
Members of the Freedom Caucus who opposed the temporary spending bill, like Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), remain committed to returning spending to pre-COVID-19 levels. Another faction, lead by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), argue that Congress must engage in a regular budget process and take up each appropriations bill separately instead of passing temporary spending bills that eventually lead to an “omnibus” – a massive, single budget bill that would fund the government into the next year.
Last Thursday, Speaker Kevin McCarthy adjourned the House after he was unable to bring the Defense appropriations bill to the floor for a vote – some Republicans objected to the bill containing additional funding for Ukraine. Congress returns to session today with just five days left to try and move the twelve budget appropriations bills before government funding runs out at 11:59pm on September 30th.
show less
