House Freedom Caucus members had been deeply wary of Speaker Paul Ryan’s approach to government spending, but their newfound faith in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her efforts to avert a government shutdown could mean that a shutdown won’t happen after all.
Many of the Freedom Caucus members had been unhappy with Ryan’s approach to government spending and believed that Pelosi would be more likely to advocate for conservative policies. Now, however, it appears that they may be willing to put their faith in Speaker Pelosi.
Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a leading voice within the Freedom Caucus, said that Pelosi “has shown that she wants to work in a bipartisan way to avoid a government shutdown.” He also said that this has given an incentive for Freedom Caucus members to find a way to bridge the gap between the House and Senate on a spending bill before the end of the week.
The Freedom Caucus could prove to be a crucial ally in this fight, as they represent a significant portion of the House Republican caucus and could sway the vote for a spending bill that avoids a government shutdown.
It remains to be seen if Speaker Pelosi and the Freedom Caucus can come to an agreement that will be acceptable to both the House and Senate, but it appears that the odds of a government shutdown may be potentially decreasing.
