House Republican leaders’ aggressive drive to pass all 12 annual spending bills by the end of the month hit an unexpected pothole Thursday as the bill funding the legislative branch was defeated in a 205-213 floor vote. Ten Republicans joined all but three Democrats in opposing the bill, which is the smallest of the annual appropriations measures, providing just over $7 billion for Congress and its activities.
The House GOP’s bill proposed to deliver a nearly 6% funding bump over 2024 levels for the House, Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office and other parts of the legislative branch.
“Senior Republican appropriators were shocked by the failed vote,” Politico says, “with House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.) calling it ‘inexplicable,’ adding that he had not heard significant concerns from members.”
The Republicans who voted against the bill were Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Eli Crane or Arizona, Matt Gaetz of Florida, Bob Good of Virginia, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Matt Rosendale of Montana and Keith Self of Texas.
Why it matters: “The failure is an ominous sign for Republicans’ push to pass the rest of their fiscal 2025 spending bills on the floor before August recess, with seven bills — most of which are far more politically divisive — tentatively slated for floor action during the last two weeks of July,” Politico’s Caitlin Emma and Jennifer Scholtes write.
