House Republicans drew headlines on Wednesday after conservatives blocked floor action on a major Pentagon funding bill.
Leaders had initially planned a procedural vote laying out the parameters of debate for the bill.
But they scrapped those plans as conservatives pressed for a full plan on spending levels across the government.
“We were supposed to have all 12 [appropriations] bills, the top-line numbers, so we can see what our spending looks like. We didn’t have that,” Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) told reporters. He said he planned to vote “no” on the procedural vote.
Other hardline conservatives also threatened to dial up pressure on leadership for aggressive spending cuts.
Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said that “there’s been more conversations today than there’s been in a long time,” crediting the possible government shutdown after Sept. 30 with forcing progress.
“It’s kind of funny what happens when the pressure is on. It kind of forces people to have to make some tough choices,” Roy said.
The development prompted fresh frustration from GOP negotiators as some lawmakers fear the growing likelihood of shutdown.
“It says we’re dysfunctional. It says we’re conflicted,” Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.), a subcommittee chairman in the House Appropriations Committee, said Wednesday.
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) said the stalled progress could hurt Republicans at the bargaining table when bicameral spending talks pick up in the weeks ahead.
“We would have had some leverage had we been able to pass some bills, but others have different ideas,” Simpson said.
The Hill’s Mychael Schnell and Emily Brooks have more here.
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