Tensions reach boiling point in House GOP meeting hours before expected government shutdown
House Speaker Paul Ryan held a heated meeting with fellow House Republicans hours before the deadline for Congress to avert a government shutdown.
Ryan faced dissent from a group of House Freedom Caucus members upset about the lack of progress on immigration reform. The members said they will not back any budget bill without a commitment from Ryan for a vote on a hard-line immigration policy.
The group has been pressuring Ryan to agree to a vote on a bill that would reduce legal immigration and grant legal status to those brought to the country illegally as children.
The meeting came as Congress scrambled to reach a deal on a budget bill ahead of the deadline for a government shutdown. It’s unclear if the House will be able to reach a deal before the deadline, as various parties grapple over a range of issues affecting the budget.
Ryan emphasized during the meeting that there’s not enough time to pass an immigration bill before the deadline. However, he reiterated his commitment to the issue and said he’ll bring an immigration bill to the floor for a vote when there’s enough support in the House to pass it.