GOP could avoid blame for shutdown despite controlling budget process

While House Republican infighting over appropriations has dominated the headlines surrounding a likely government shutdown, only a fraction of voters believe that is to blame for stalled talks.

As Congress continues to work to prevent a government shutdown, a plurality of voters, 46%, see the matter as being the fault of disagreements between Republicans and Democrats, according to a Morning Consult poll.

DESANTIS UNDER PRESSURE TO GET OFF THE ROPES IN SECOND REPUBLICAN DEBATE

Only 20% of voters said the stalled talks over government funding were due to Republican infighting, and 11% said they were due to Democratic infighting. Among Republicans (60%), independents (44%), and Democrats (36%), at least a plurality say the risk of a government shutdown is because of a failure by both Republicans and Democrats to come to an agreement.

Among voters who say they have heard a lot about a shutdown, 41% say it is because of Republican infighting, while 34% say it is because of interparty fighting and 21% say it is because of Democratic infighting.

Congress has until Saturday to pass all 12 appropriations bills or pass an interim continuing resolution to keep funding at current levels until a compromise can be negotiated.

The narrow Republican majority in the House of Representatives has been kneecapped by a small group within the party who are set on passing more conservative spending bills despite the legislation still having to be approved by the Senate under a Democratic majority.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is trying to get stopgap bills passed this week as the House reconvenes on Tuesday night. The spending bill fight has been the latest test in McCarthy’s leadership over the narrow GOP House majority.

Republicans in the House came out of the debt ceiling talks in spring in better shape than Democrats and President Joe Biden, and the current poll numbers are an indicator they may be able to avert full blame for a government shutdown.