Ultraconservative Virginia Rep. Bob Good’s remarks suggesting that most Americans wouldn’t even notice a temporary government shutdown have added to the worries.
Good and his House Freedom Caucus colleagues have disrupted the party’s spending bills, causing anxiety among other Republicans. Despite assurances from speaker Kevin McCarthy and senior republicans that they will prevent a lapse in Federal funding after September 30th, many in the party fear that the hard right will still push for a shutdown.
Their resistance could even jeopardize a temporary spending arrangement, making it challenging to negotiate a long-term spending deal. With only 12 working days left before September 30th, house Republicans are already falling short of the spending targets set by the debt deal negotiated by McCarthy and president Joe Biden.
