Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.), the newly elected chair of the Republican Essential Road Caucus within the Home, is gearing up for the following huge battle in Congress: Methods to fund the federal government earlier than the Sept. 30 deadline, ideally whereas avoiding a stopgap measure.
“I am giving voice to a caucus of individuals which can be reliably there to do the fitting factor, and a lot of appropriators. Why serve on [the] Appropriations [Committee] if we’ll govern with CRs?” Flood stated in an interview Wednesday, referring to a seamless decision (CR) to fund the federal government at present ranges. “And why reside below the Biden White Home’s priorities?”
Flood was elected chair of the Essential Road Caucus earlier this month after Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), who had been the group’s chair since 2023, stepped down as he ramps up a gubernatorial run. Earlier than becoming a member of Congress in 2022, Flood was the Speaker of Nebraska’s state Legislature and based what’s now one of many largest media operations in Nebraska.
The federal government funding battle might be Flood’s first check in his new position.
Congress in March accepted a measure to increase authorities funding at ranges set through the Biden administration, with leaders arguing it could give extra time for the brand new Republican trifecta to hash out funding particulars.
Time is working brief, although. The Home, which is out till September, has accepted simply two of 12 common appropriations payments. Chatter is rising a few persevering with decision, presumably even a full-year measure that doesn’t enhance spending — a proposal that Home Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris (R-Md.) signaled he is open to.
“I truly hate the concept of speaking a few CR,” Flood countered, noting that there are various members of the Home Appropriations Committee in his group.
“We are able to nonetheless arrive at a ultimate spot, and I’d suppose it is within the Democrats’ finest curiosity to seek out widespread floor with us. As a result of if we find yourself in some type of a authorities shutdown state of affairs, their nemesis, President Trump, has fairly broad powers because it pertains to federal spending when Congress fails to do its job,” Flood stated.
Additionally hanging over the funding course of is the specter of White Home funds chief Russell Vought eyeing “pocket rescissions,” or a request to claw again funding so late within the fiscal yr that funding expires earlier than Congress can act.
Requested about that gambit, Flood pointed to Congress’s energy of the purse.
“Our Structure is not designed to have the chief department controlling spending. It is designed to have the Congress do it. And why join this job when you do not need to try this work?” Flood stated.
The Essential Road Caucus is product of self-described “pragmatic” Republicans, with members starting from blue-state moderates to deep-red district conservatives. Stylistically, it attracts a stark distinction with the confrontational, no-holds-barred Freedom Caucus.
However regardless of garnering much less consideration as its members veer towards institutional accountability, Essential Road, which contains 83 members, has emerged in the previous couple of years as a key behind-the-scenes force within the Home Republican Convention.
Over the primary half of this yr, that meant being deeply concerned in crafting the “huge, stunning invoice” of President Trump’s tax reduce and spending priorities.
“Because it pertains to defending Medicaid, I believe we have been a key voice on the desk,” Flood stated concerning the group’s involvement. “The president wished to guard Medicaid. We wished to guard Medicaid.”
The group pushed arduous for the inclusion of the $50 billion rural well being fund that can distribute funds throughout states with the intention of defending rural hospitals threatened by reforms and cuts to Medicaid within the megabill.
The race is now on to fill the Essential Road Caucus’s open vice chair position, which Flood beforehand held — and there’s ample curiosity within the place. The contenders for that place to date, Flood stated, are Reps. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.), Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) and Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.), with a caucus election set for Sept. 3.
Flood stated the curiosity within the caucus’s vice chair slot exhibits how influential the Essential Road Caucus has turn into. The group has grown from round 50 members when Flood joined Congress in 2022 to greater than one-third of the GOP convention.
There are frequently 50 or 60 members at its weekly assembly, Flood stated — which frequently options White Home officers like Power Secretary Chris Wright and Federal Communications Fee Chair Brendan Carr. White Home deputy chief of employees Stephen Miller is slated to go to the group quickly as nicely.
“Now we have leaders which can be going to make an actual imprint on the way forward for Congress,” Flood stated. “My objective is to proceed what Dusty did and elevate up our members to place all of us ready to be partaking on each nook.”