In a letter to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate conservatives urged that Congress should not enact a huge omnibus bill until Republicans retake the House.
Senators Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Rick Scott (R-FL) all highlighted the necessity for a short-term continuing resolution (CR) to finance the govt. until the new Congress is sworn in and GOP regains control of the House for the first time in nearly four years.
The Senate conservatives contended that the midterm elections functioned as a requirement to provide Republican participation on a spending plan, and that passing a bill without Republican involvement on a huge and long-term omnibus spending bill would demonstrate weak leadership. Republicans argued that passing a funding plan that funded President Joe Biden’s program without reining in his “reckless practices” would be wrong. They stated:
“The American people made their voices heard at the polls on Nov. 8, 2022. Using the electoral system, millions of Americans conveyed a message: they want divided control in Washington to rein in both parties’ worst excesses. The undersigned support the voters. We believe it would be reckless and a true representation of poor leadership for Republicans to overlook the desire of the American people and rubber stamp an omnibus spending measure that finances ten more months of President Biden’s agenda with no checks on his irresponsible policies, which have resulted in a 40-year high in inflation.”
“President Biden has presided over a $4.8 trillion increase in the nation’s deficit since taking office, costing the typical American household an additional $753 each month. The next Congress should establish spending priorities for the rest of the fiscal year.”
“Now is the time for Republicans to commit to leading America to a brighter future. The present Continuing Resolution extends funding for the federal govt. until December 16, 2022. We must not approve anything except a short-term Continuing Resolution that sustains the federal govt. until the 118th Congress takes office.”
On Tuesday, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) stated his opposition to an omnibus spending measure.
“No extra expenditure, no additional policy goals should be included,” the Senate conservatives added. “Any pressing topics requiring Senate consideration should be treated individually and on their own terms.”