It’s Not Clear What Kevin McCarthy Is Doing

Punchbowl News: “The House Rules Committee will meet at 4 p.m. to consider the stopgap funding bill, which keeps the government open until Nov. 1. The House Republican elected leadership will meet this afternoon. And the House will vote at 6:30 p.m. The House GOP whip team will begin canvassing the conference on the proposed CR and the defense spending bill at the 6:30 vote. And they will report back to McCarthy and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise as to whether these bills have a chance of passing.”

“McCarthy’s play here is a bit befuddling. This CR has no chance of passing the Senate, but it would, theoretically, show that the House isn’t completely feckless. And there are at least 10 House GOP no votes right now.”

“To say McCarthy has a herculean task ahead of him is an understatement.”

Bloomberg: “At least 10 hard-right lawmakers have announced their opposition to the measure… McCarthy can only afford to lose four Republican votes in the face of unified Democratic opposition.”