The House began debate on its Pentagon policy bill on Wednesday, but Republican infighting that could still kill the must-pass legislation is far from over. Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his conservative detractors are working to hammer out a deal to hold votes on several controversial amendments that will allow the National Defense Authorization Act to proceed toward a final vote in the House.
The bill cleared its first procedural hurdle Wednesday. But a lingering impasse over OK’ing amendments that would strike down a host of Pentagon policies aimed at diversity in the ranks has some Republicans questioning whether the defense bill can even pass this week as planned.
Lawmakers voted 217-207 along party lines to move the bill to the floor and consider an initial batch of nearly 300 amendments. No Republicans opposed the effort.
But that package contains mostly uncontroversial proposals — which were disposed of on the floor with little debate — and largely buys time for McCarthy to reach a deal on more partisan amendments. And there’s no endgame in sight, with lawmakers openly wondering if the bill could pass this week, as leadership originally planned.
To make matters more complicated, Democratic votes are likely needed to pass the final bill because many conservatives often oppose the measure no matter which party is in power. In cutting a deal with hardliners to advance the bill on the floor, McCarthy runs the risk of alienating Democrats and putting passage of the legislation in peril.
The House Rules Committee late Tuesday evening approved an initial tranche of nearly 300 amendments that will allow debate on the defense bill to begin. But that package contains mostly uncontroversial proposals and largely buys time for McCarthy to reach a deal on more partisan amendments.
Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), chair of the pro-Trump House Freedom Caucus, said Wednesday after a closed-door GOP conference meeting that “big issues” remain unresolved. Perry and his conservative members are pushing leadership to take its time rather than finishing the bill this week — a move that won’t sit well with defense hawks.
Scott Perry and his conservative members are pushing leadership to take its time rather than finishing the bill this week — a move that won’t sit well with defense hawks.
