Republicans have plenty of ideas on how to stop a shutdown. They just can’t agree on one plan, much less get Democrats to go along.
Hardline conservatives on Friday defeated House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s proposal, which was in itself a bit of a fantasy. It demanded that in return for keeping the government open just one month Democrats concede to new restrictions on asylum and immigration and a 30% cut in most federal agencies.
The House’s rejection of McCarthy’s plan unleashed a flood of new proposals, even as a shutdown beginning Sunday morning became all but inevitable. Those proposals seem to only be further sowing divisions.
“What we heard in there is total capitulation,” Representative Bob Good, an ultraconservative from Virginia, said leaving a closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans that spanned more than two hours Friday night.
Here are some of the leading options:
Clean But Very Short
Republican Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, a hardline conservative, as well as some House Republicans, began shopping around a plan for “clean” temporary funding stripped of any controversial provisions. That means no new aid to Ukraine that could offend Republican populists but also no funding cuts or poison-pill immigration provisions. Senate Appropriations Chair Patty Murray blocked Johnson’s initial offer, dismissing it as “slapdash” and holding out for more. But some sort of very short term bill is likely the only chance to avoid at least a short shutdown given splits within the GOP.
Very Short With Tough Demands
Some House Republicans are also mulling an offer to keep the government open for as little as one week, but only if Democrats agree to meet demands on immigration policy. House Republicans are mulling this proposal overnight, with a vote possible Saturday. Another option, Republicans said, is to bring back the failed bill but have it last 14 days instead of 31 days.
Bipartisan Senate Plan
Many Senate Republicans — including GOP leader Mitch McConnell — are backing a bipartisan plan to keep the government open until mid-November. That includes a portion — but not all — the money the Biden administration requested for Ukraine and for disaster relief. Senate Democratic leaders are on board but it faces pushback from House Republicans. House Republicans, however, are split over Ukraine aid and want border provisions first.
Senate Plan With Border Provisions
Some Senate Republicans are exploring negotiating border control provisions with moderate Democrat Joe Manchin and independent Kyrsten Sinema to add to the current bipartisan plan. There was little sign of progress on Friday.
Wait Until Military Pay Day
Several Republican lawmakers said they would face greater pressure to reopen the government on Oct. 13, when active-duty military personnel would miss their paychecks due to a funding lapse and political pressure would rise on the GOP.
Moderates Defect
Some House Republican moderates that represent areas Joe Biden won in the last presidential election are wary of a voter backlash over disrupted government services. They are considering joining with Democrats to override McCarthy and force passage of temporary funding to keep the government open until Jan. 11.
Long March
Some House conservatives want to force both chambers to pass 12 full-year spending bills for government agencies, and have brushed off the damaging impact of a lengthy shutdown. It would take weeks or months to process all of those bills and negotiate compromise versions through both chambers, making it extremely unlikely.
Read More: The Shutdown Seven: Here Are Lawmakers to Watch in Negotiations
--With assistance from Laura Litvan and Billy House.
Author: Steven T. Dennis and Erik Wasson
