Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Sunday that he intended to resurrect a stalled Pentagon spending measure and try to push it to the House floor this week despite pledges by members of the far-right Freedom Caucus to oppose the move unless their sweeping demands on spending were met.
His decision, announced on Fox News, was a bid to pressure far-right members to drop their insistence on steeper spending cuts or risk political heat for blocking the Pentagon funding bill.
with his job on the line.
“We’ll bring it to the floor, win or lose, and show the American public who’s for the Department of Defense, who’s for the military, who’s for giving them a pay raise,” Mr. McCarthy said.
He said his own experience with previous government closures had convinced him that they are best avoided, and that a shutdown would only put President Biden in a stronger position.
Persons:
Kevin McCarthy, who’s, Mr, McCarthy, Biden
Organizations:
Fox News, Republicans, Department of Defense, Republican