Meadows: Right Now, There Aren’t Enough Votes to Avoid a Government Shutdown Without Dem Support

UPDATE: The Freedom Caucus accepted a deal with GOP leadership to pass a short-term CR.

On Thursday’s broadcast of CNN’s “Situation Room,” House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows (R-NC) stated that there are not enough votes to pass the House spending bill and avert a government shutdown without Democratic support, but negotiations are ongoing.

Meadows said, “You know, as of right now, there are not enough votes to pass it on the House floor. But discussions are ongoing with leadership, and hopefully, we’ll get to a path where we can send it over to the Senate and let them hopefully finish the job.”

He added, “I can say, that if there is not any Democrat support currently, there are not enough votes to get to 218.” Meadows continued that Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) “has an idea that might break this logjam.”

Meadows also stated he is currently not in favor of a short-term, 30-day spending bill.

Meadows said that the spending bill will include a six-year extension of CHIP.

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