Senate Republicans were already going to have a hard time getting their legislative priorities passed as they will not be in the majority for at least another two years.
But any of their priorities that make it through the upper chamber may run into the roadblock of a Republican-controlled House if the Senate passes a government spending package before the end of the year.
On Tuesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) shared a tweet from Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) warning Republican senators against voting for a $1.7 trillion spending package.
“13 [House Republicans] to [Senate Republicans]: “… we are obliged to inform you that if any omnibus passes in the remaining days of this Congress, we will oppose and whip opposition to any legislative priority of those senators who vote for this bill – including the … leader,” Roy’s tweet stated.
McCarthy re-tweeted it and added, “Agreed. Except no need to whip—when I’m Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people.”
Agreed. Except no need to whip—when I’m Speaker, their bills will be dead on arrival in the House if this nearly $2T monstrosity is allowed to move forward over our objections and the will of the American people. https://t.co/WCC477R4IM
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) December 20, 2022
In a separate tweet, Roy explained his position as he said, “Doesn’t matter how ‘huge.’ These Senators are at war with the people of Texas and ARE the problem. They ARE the swamp.”
Doesn’t matter how “huge.” These Senators are at war with the people of Texas and ARE the problem. They ARE the swamp. #StandUpForAmerica https://t.co/4CJE2UN7u0
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) December 20, 2022
McCarthy’s warning comes as he has struggled to lock down the support of enough Republicans in his bid to become House speaker in January.
House Republicans have been pushing to delay a vote on the spending package until January when they will be in the majority in the lower chamber.
As CNN notes, they “believe that they have a mandate from voters to stem domestic spending on issues like COVID-19, climate change and other priorities that have characterized President Joe Biden’s administration.”
Earlier this month, six Republican senators, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), also signed a letter suggesting the Senate should not pass a spending package until January.
“For the Senate to ram through a so-called ‘omnibus’ bill—which would fund the entirety of the Pelosi-Schumer spending agenda through most of next year—would utterly disempower the new Republican House from enacting our shared priorities,” the letter argued.
Despite Republicans’ objections, Congress is expected to pass the 4,155-page spending bill to keep the government funded through the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
The package includes $858 billion in defense funding and $40 billion in aid for Ukraine.
Also included is Sen. Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) legislation to ban TikTok on government devices.
Additionally, the package includes the Electoral Count Reform Act, which would clarify that the vice president cannot overturn the results of a presidential election.