The most surprising no vote against Kevin McCarthy’s short-term spending bill? A member of his own leadership team.
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), the House GOP conference secretary, was among one of the 90 GOP no votes against the so-called continuing resolution that would extend government funding at current levels through Nov. 17.
The defection comes after GOP leadership whipped the vote, attempting to get their rank-and-file members to support it ahead of a pending government shutdown just hours away.
Members of leadership are generally expected to fall in line during votes that the speaker prioritizes enough to whip —and failing to do so means facing internal consequences. If McClain ultimately will face any punishment remains unclear, but it could give her an advantage for any future leadership bid, as well.
After all, Republican leaders flipped from vowing to pass a stopgap bill with cuts and border policies, only to pivot when it was clear they would lack the support without Democratic help.
