House Republicans Failed to pass their $7 billion Funding Bill for Parts of the Legislative Branch on Thursday, a Surprise Misstep in what should have been an easy Victory for GOP Leaders.
The Failure is an ominous Sign for Republicans’ push to Pass the rest of their Fiscal 2025 Spending Bills on the Floor before August Recess, with Seven Bills, most of which are far more Politically Divisive, tentatively slated for Floor Action during the last Two Weeks of July.
The Measure collapsed on the House Floor in a 205-213 Vote, with 10 Republicans joining Democrats to tank the Legislation, as well as several GOP Absences. A longstanding and Contentious Freeze on a Cost-of-Living Pay Raise for Members of Congress, in addition to concerns about Higher Spending, Contributed to the GOP Dissension.
Before the Vote, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA, 9th District), a GOP Appropriator who Voted against the Bill, raised concerns on the Floor about Increased Funding Levels and the Cconstitutionality of Maintaining the Pay Freeze through Appropriations Bills.
While House Republicans are broadly seeking Cuts throughout their Annual Spending Bills for the Fiscal year that begins Oct. 1st, the Legislative Branch Measure is One of a few that seeks a Funding Hike, proposing an overall of 6% bump for the House, Capitol Police, Congressional Budget Office, and more.
Senior Republican Appropriators were Shocked by the Failed Vote, with House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-OK, 4th District) calling it “Inexplicable,” adding that He had Not heard Significant concerns from Members.
“Well, I assumed it was going to pass,” said Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL, 4th District), another Senior Appropriator.
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA, 21st District), who oversees the Legislative Branch Funding Measure, said the Bill was facing “a few different issues.” “And so we went in — the last couple of days — we knew that it was going to be close,” He said. “There were some members that were expressing concerns. And there were a lot of members who weren't here, as well.”
Republican Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AR, 5th District), Tim Burchett (R-TN, 2nd District), Eli Crane (R-AZ, 2nd District), Matt Gaetz (R-FL, 1st District), Bob Good (R-VA, 5th District), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ, 8th District), Ralph Norman (R-SC, 5th District), Matt Rosendale (R-MT, 2nd District), Keith Self (R-TX, 3rd District), Voted against the Bill.
GOP Leaders will now face their most Ambitious Fiscal 2025 Task yet: attempting to Pass Seven Appropriations Bills during the last Two weeks of July, several of which never made it across the Floor Last Summer, thanks to Politically tough Goals for Funding Cuts and Policy Provisions that fueled House Republican Infighting.
House Republicans have so far managed to Pass Four of their Spending Bills on the Floor, for the Fiscal year that begins Oct. 1st, including Measures that would Fund the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Homeland Security, State and Foreign Aid Programs.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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