As shutdown looms, US House Republicans search for stopgap solution
By David Morgan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives showed no sign on Tuesday of coalescing around a government funding plan to keep federal agencies open, just 10 days before Congress faces its next shutdown deadline.
Republican lawmakers, who hold a slim 221-212 House majority, met behind closed doors to debate options on how to structure a stopgap measure known as a continuing resolution, or «CR,» that would temporarily fund the government after current funding expires on Nov. 17.
«Everybody's got a little bit different position, different opinions,» Representative Brian Babin told reporters afterward. «Right now, we're cogitating about it.»
House Speaker Mike Johnson, the top Republican in Congress, described the closed-door debate as «positive.»
«We certainly want to avoid a government shutdown. It's a dangerous time around the world right now. We recognize that,» Johnson said at a news conference. «We'll be revealing what our plan is in short order.»
Republican lawmakers, who say they fear being forced to back a rival funding measure from the Democratic-led Senate, told reporters they expect Johnson to unveil a stopgap measure within the next few days, ensuring a House vote early next week.
«He is going to make a play call, and I would expect that the overwhelming majority of the conference would back his play,» Representative Dusty Johnson said.
Congress must pass 12 appropriation bills to fund the government through its fiscal year.
House Republicans are focused on passing full-year appropriations bills for transportation, housing, urban development and financial services. The chamber has passed seven partisan Republican bills of the 12 spending measures needed. The
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