Republican senators are growing increasingly alarmed at Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) inability to pass spending legislation over the staunch opposition of a small group of conservative rebels, and fear a government shutdown may be days away.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who’s had to deal with the political fallout of government shutdowns in 1995-96, 2013 and 2018-19, warned Republican lawmakers on the other side of the Capitol on Tuesday that shutdowns are “a loser for Republicans, politically.”
McConnell made his comments after House Republican leaders canceled a key procedural vote on a stopgap funding measure that was scheduled for 2:30 pm Tuesday amid opposition from disgruntled conservatives.
The federal government is the largest employer in the United States and the hardcore R base isn’t big enough for them to get away with pissing off people on the margins. Sure, the true believers will blame democrats. But if a relatively small percentage of Republican voters get pissed and don’t bother voting, they’re not only not going to win the White House, they could easily lose the house and their shot at controlling the senate. And what pisses people off more than not getting paid?