Representative Pocan Says House Freedom Caucus is Holding up the Budget Process

Tuesday, August 15th, 2023 -- 11:01 AM

(Raymond Neupert, WRN) Congressman Mark Pocan says a minority of House Republicans are holding up budget talks on purpose.

Congressman Mark Pocan says he's worried the House won't be able to reach an agreement on a federal budget before an upcoming deadline. Speaking to Wisconsin Eye, the second district Democrat says conservatives have delayed the budget process. "In order for Kevin McCarthy to become speaker, he had to give away a lot. And some of that was putting some of the, what I call crazies, onto the committee."

Pocan says that normal appropriations bills are being sidelined for policy arguments by conservatives. "They added all these policy riders and have nothing to do with spending, which is appropriations, around pride flags. Around abortion. Around diversity, equity, inclusion, and all this extreme, extreme stuff."

Pocan says the House Freedom Caucus has been obstructing the budget process to score political points. "They just want to do it. They want the t shirt that says 'I went to Washington and I shut down government.'"

He says a budget, either the 12 regular bills or an omnibus bill, needs to be passed by the end of September or else the government will shut down.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.