Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) threatened to oppose plans by GOP senators who support the $1.7 trillion omnibus bill with Democrats.
McCarthy shared the issue on Tuesday, arguing that the party should wait for Republicans to take power in the House in January before agreeing to a long-term plan.
McCarthy Supplants McConnell as the Grim Reaper: House GOP Leader Joins Threats to Block Legislation from Any Senate Republican Who Votes for Omnibus https://t.co/7n6BuI4ro3
— Ultra Maga Florida Man (@arweiss12053) December 20, 2022
"Reps. Chip Roy (R-TX), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Scott Perry (R-PA), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ), along with nine other conservatives House members, signed a letter Tuesday promising to block any priorities of the Republican senators who rushed to support the omnibus deal with Democrats just days before Congress leaves town for Christmas," Breitbart News reported.
“At the very least, due respect for Americans who elected would call for not passing a ‘lame duck’ bill just days before members fly home for Christmas and two weeks before a new Republican majority is sworn in for the 118th Congress,” the conservatives wrote.
“Senate Republicans have 41 votes necessary to stop this and should do so now," the letter added.
13 @HouseGOP to @SenateGOP: “…we are obliged to inform you that if any omnibus passes in the remaining days of this Congress, we will oppose and whip opposition to any legislative priority of those senators who vote for this bill – including the… leader.”#StandUpForAmerica pic.twitter.com/AVAHmESbKF
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) December 20, 2022
“Agreed. Except no need to whip—when I’m Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people,” McCarthy said in a statement supporting the bill.
But House conservatives have little power to stop the plan without help from Republicans in the Senate.
McConnell has instead emphasized working in a bipartisan manner to pass the current legislation.
I’m pretty proud of the fact that with a Democratic president, a Democratic House, and a Democratic Senate, we were able to achieve through this omnibus spending bill essentially all of our priorities,” he told reporters.
The power struggle between the top Republicans in Congress is intensifying as @LeaderMcConnell is preparing to support a $1.65 trillion omnibus spending bill, while House @GOPLeader Kevin McCarthy opposes the bill. https://t.co/NN9ZzvNybO
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) December 21, 2022
The massive spending bill includes a variety of projects that would support the pet projects of leaders on both sides of the bill.
The plan includes $45 billion for Ukraine, yet also includes hundreds of millions toward climate efforts, museums, and other projects that need a closer look.
The bill needs to die and be taken apart more carefully, but it's uncertain whether McCarthy's plea will do anything to change the situation.
