The House of Representative last week passed a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded at current levels through Nov. 21.
The measure passed by a mostly party-line 217-212 vote. Republicans Victoria Spartz and Thomas Massie voted against it; Democrat Jared Golden voted in favor.
The Senate, however, has taken no action.
Congress, in recess this week, faces a Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a government shutdown.
Reading between the lines, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama) sees the opposing party torn two ways.
“I think they see a real problem if they shut down the government. That could cause a real problem for them as well as problems for the entire nation,” he told Washington Watch host Tony Perkins Monday. “At the same time, there’s a tremendous amount of pressure from their base … they want to fight Donald Trump.”
Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, not enough to end a filibuster that would be employed to prevent the passage of a CR.
So, for now, there’s inaction from the Senate. It will have just two days to pass the CR once lawmakers return.
“I think over the next few days, they will be talking to their constituents and talking to their members and finding out really which is the course of least resistance. Whichever one they decide, that's the one they'll move in. I think right now it could go either way,” Aderholt said.
The House CR includes additional funding for lawmaker security and combined security funding for the executive and judicial branches.
It also added funds for Washington, D.C.’s budget after earlier cancellations.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer s facing particular pressure from a New York electorate that has become increasingly far left.
The fact that socialist Zohran Mamdani holds a commanding lead in the polls in the race for the next mayor of New York City is one glaring example.
Mamdani’s policy platform includes proposals to freeze rents, make public buses fare-free, raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour by 2030, and establish government-owned grocery stores to reduce living costs.
He argues that government intervention can improve quality of life for working people and plans to fund these initiatives by taxing the wealthy.
That’s the kind of pressure Schumer faces from the far left of his party as budget talks continue.
“I think that Schumer knows the dangers of shutting down the government. You could see from his interview (Sunday) that he was very reluctant to say he's committed to shut down the government because he knows the ramifications. At the same time, if they get pressure and their base says you got to do it, it may happen,” Aderholt said.
Dems seeking healthcare subsidies
Right now, Democrats are angling for subsidies for government healthcare, “a bridge too far,” Aderholt said.
Ultimately, he sees Republicans agreeing to something less.
“They may notch it down and ask for a little something to save face, and then an agreement will be made.”
It’s all speculation for now, and Aderholt won’t rule out the possibility of a shutdown.
“The longer this goes, the more likelihood it would be, but I think they're taking a real chance for them to shut down the government. I think that would really be a bad look for them.”
