WASHINGTON (TNND) -- House Republicans are advancing a plan for a six-month stopgap measure to maintain government funding beyond next week's shutdown deadline, despite strong opposition from Democrats. The proposed continuing resolution (CR) aims to freeze spending at current levels, with some exceptions for defense, veterans, and other essential contracts.
Rep. Chip Roy, R-TX, says he's on board with House GOP leaders and President Donald Trump in moving forward with a clean stopgap bill as the nation approaches a March 14 deadline to avoid a partial federal government shutdown.
"We haven't seen the text yet, but we certainly in our conversations with the White House, my understanding from the speaker's office that this should be a truly clean CR in the sense that it will be a spending freeze," Roy told The National News Desk. "You have to make some tweaks, but it will be a true spending freeze, keeping spending levels at current levels."
Roy expressed confidence in the plan, saying, "Freezing spending and holding it in check, and then you're giving the executive branch the power that they have under the Constitution to restrain spending and empower Elon to expose all of this waste, fraud, and abuse."
Despite concerns from some constituents about the impact of federal cuts, Roy noted, "Most of my constituents are happy to see us identifying waste, fraud, and abuse and all the things that need to be restrained."
He also addressed the need for bipartisan support in the Senate, saying, "To pass in the Senate, we will need seven Democrat votes, but in the House, I think we can get there."
The plan involves empowering the president and Elon to identify and address wasteful spending. "Elon is simply just acting to identify this and present it to the president and present it to the secretaries," Roy said. "Elon, I think, is serving as a valuable tool with the microscope shining the light on all of this waste."
House Republicans are working to secure enough votes to pass the CR by next Friday, aiming to avoid a government shutdown and set the stage for a successful appropriation season this summer.