House Republicans are inching closer together on a plan to fund the government, with a key GOP hard-liner suggesting he could tolerate a short-term punt before funding runs out Sept. 30.
Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus and for weeks has pushed for a yearlong continuing resolution, said in a brief interview Monday he could support a shorter stopgap plan that Appropriations Chair Tom Cole is backing — if Cole has the votes.
Some in the Freedom Caucus ranks have declared themselves as “hard no” on Cole’s plan, which doesn’t currently have the votes to pass. But Harris said he would not necessarily oppose a shorter CR that would expire before the winter holidays — allowing time for more negotiations between the two parties and chambers.
“No, if they have the votes for it, I think we’ll support it, but we prefer it to be into next year,” Harris said.
