House Majority Leader Steve Scalise outlined an ambitious plan Wednesday to pass a dozen partisan funding bills before August, an arduous feat that will force swing-district Republicans to vote on budget cuts and touchy policy issues just months ahead of Election Day.
The tentative summer agenda, detailed during a House GOP closed-door meeting, endeavors to pass all 12 funding bills in June and July.
It illustrates a tricky balance Republican leaders have to navigate — government funding expires Oct. 1, and they’re looking to report some progress before then despite the likelihood that spending levels will get punted past the election.
But at least a handful of those measures could easily reignite intra-GOP tensions, as demonstrated by their failed attempt to pass five of the bills last year, potentially embarrassing party leadership just months ahead of November.
