McCarthy Tries To Pass Defense Bill Again After Failing Three Times Last Week

Kevin McCarthy will try again this week to get Republicans to support a government funding bill after failing three times last week to even have the measure considered by the House.

The Pentagon spending bill was rejected on Thursday by the House Republicans.

Moments before McCarthy thought he had won over his fellow Republicans, an unexpected turn of events blocked him again. A handful of hard-right members opposed the Speaker’s bill.

It was a slap to the face for McCarthy, who had tried to win over his members to prevent a shutdown on October 1.

“This is a whole new concept of individuals that just want to burn the whole place down,” McCarthy said. “It doesn’t work.”

The Republicans are racing to find a plan to try to gain approval for three to four of the annual appropriations bills that would force spending cuts. Even if the bills were passed, they would certainly be rejected by the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“We’ve got to do our jobs,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), “That’s it – it’s that simple.”

Republicans who voted against McCarthy include Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona), Dan Bishop (R-North Carolina), Eli Crane (R-Arizona), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) and Matt Rosendale (R-Montana).

Greene, who originally stood in support of McCarthy in his bill that was negotiated with President Joe Biden to raise the debt limit just months ago, voted no because the bill included funding for Ukraine.

“Our defense bill should not fund our DOD for blood money for the Ukraine war, that’s why I’m a NO,” wrote Green on X.