A small but significant number of moderate GOP lawmakers are plotting a path toward potentially working with Democrats to fund the government past Sept. 30 and combat a shutdown.

At least three Republicans — Reps. Mike Lawler (N.Y.), Don Bacon (Neb.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.) — have expressed an openness to joining Democrats in signing a discharge petition, a mechanism to force a vote on a measure against the wishes of the Speaker.

Four members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus introduced a bill Friday that reflects the group’s framework for a short-term stopgap funding measure. Fitzpatrick suggested Sunday that lawmakers could use a discharge petition to compel a vote on that legislation.

Five Republicans would need to join their party’s leaders in order to force action with Democrats.

      • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Unironically true. On the left-right spectrum, the major US parties are one spanning from center-right to right (with very few center-left exceptions) and one that spans from far right to literal fascism, with the fascist wing of the party dominating 😮‍💨

        • Cryophilia@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Everything is relative. You’re looking at the US from a western European perspective. There’s no single objective “normal” left vs right.

          Look, I agree that the US is too far right, but I’m a little sick of western Europeans claiming to speak for the world here. The casual superiority complex is annoying. Saudi Arabia is faaaaaaar to the right of the US.

          • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            I’m a little sick of western Europeans claiming to speak for the world

            If you’re an American, that’s about the epitome of hypocrisy 😂

            Saudi Arabia is faaaaaaar to the right of the US.

            Used to be true, but not true of the GOP any more. It’s a more old fashioned kind of far right, sure, but it’s not farther right.

            The SA system is one where the royal family controls everything, LGBTQ+ people have no rights, women are second class citizens and the laws are closely tied to Islam.

            The system the GOP is openly striving for is one where the president controls the entire federal government and can override state laws, LGBTQ+ people have no rights, women are second class citizens and the laws are closely tied to Christianity.