GOP tempers flare as McCarthy pans McConnell’s spending strategy
by Alexander Bolton - 12/15/22 6:00 AM ET
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is taking public shots at Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s (Ky.) plan to pass an omnibus spending package before Christmas, fueling tensions between Senate and House GOP leaders.
McConnell’s Senate allies say that McCarthy’s criticisms are “not helpful” to their efforts to pass a year-end spending package and avoid a government shutdown.
And they worry this could be a preview of a potentially “challenging” working relationship between McConnell and McCarthy in the next Congress.
McCarthy told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Tuesday evening that he hopes Senate Republicans won’t vote for the omnibus spending bill, arguing that they could save almost $100 billion in taxpayer money by voting instead for a stopgap measure that would freeze federal funding levels until next year when Republicans will take control of the House.
“They’re trying to jam us right before Christmas. Why would you ever move forward when there’s a change in power in 21 days where Republicans would have a stronger hand?” McCarthy said. “We wouldn’t be talking about adding more money. We’d talk about decreasing.”
McCarthy doubled down on his tough talk during a press conference Wednesday.
He also vowed to “sit down” with his colleagues next year and “take how much money we’re able to afford and we’d proportion it out and let all the members have that debate” on how to spend it.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/3775768-gop-tempers-flare-as-mccarthy-pans-mcconnells-spending-strategy/
