A Virginia Republican congressman and member of the House Freedom Caucus told “Meet the Press” hostess Kristen Welker he supports passing a seven-day continuing resolution to keep the federal government operating past the Saturday expiration of Fiscal Year 2023.
“I would support a one-week continuing resolution to keep the government open while we were passing those bills,” said U.S. Representative Bob Good (R.-VA-05), who was one of 71 Republicans who voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the debt ceiling deal the GOP leadership cut with President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
Good said with three appropriations bills passed, he is willing to go along with leadership and see what the Senate comes up with.
“We could do another week and get this done by, say, mid-October,” he added.
A 30-day continuing resolution failed the House Friday, 232-198, with 21 Republicans voting with Democrats to defeat the bill.
WATCH: @RepBobGood says he would support a one-week continuing resolution to avert a government shutdown.@kwelkernbc: “Is that realistic? Do you think that could potentially pass?"@RepBobGood: “A shutdown is probable based on past history.” pic.twitter.com/SGZ2FJX1qr
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 29, 2023
On Thursday, the GOP-controlled House passed appropriation bills for the Pentagon, State Department Foreign Operations, and Homeland Security. Twenty-seven Republicans voted against the Agriculture and FDA appropriation bill because of language restricting access to abortion pills.
Good tempered his willingness to cooperate with some skepticism and what he called a look back to history because House conservatives have tied a new budget deal to securing the borders.
“The Senate hasn’t shown any willingness to cut spending any interest in securing the border,” he said.
The congressman, who won his seat in 2020 by beating Denver Riggleman, a NeverTrump Republican who endorsed Biden against President Donald J. Trump that cycle, also took a shot at Senate Republicans who have not backed up House conservatives and have, instead, worked with Democrats to isolate the conservatives as the villains.
“Unfortunately, the Senate Republicans have joined with Senate Democrats trying to raise spending, at least from a leadership McConnell standpoint,” he said.
“Then, it’s still kind of amazing the Senate still hasn’t passed any of their spending bills,” said the former Liberty University associate athletic director.
“Can you just imagine if Hakeem Jeffries was agreeing with us to cut spending, the House would’ve long ago passed our 12 bills if the House Democrats were agreeing with us?” he asked Welker. “That said, we’re responsible for what we do in the House; we should have already passed our 12 bills.”
Good, a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, said with three of the four bills Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R.-CA-20) and conservatives agreed to pass first, he thinks the wind is still at their back.
“We need to continue the momentum from last night, where we passed three bills,” he said.
“We didn’t pass all four, but we need to bring the Ag bill back and bring the other bills forward as quickly as possible.”
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Neil W. McCabe is a staff reporter for The Virginia Star.
Photo “Bob Good” by Meet the Press.
