'Not a great sign' for GOP leadership as budget bill looks set to tank: reporter

UPDATE: The House GOP leadership has now pulled the bill. It is the second bill that the Republicans have withdrawn this week due to a lack of support.

Republicans are looking for an opportunity to use absences in the House by Democrats to pass a budget bill, Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman posted on social media Thursday. There are currently four Republicans out and 12 Democrats.

Sherman went on to report that the right-wing Freedom Caucus is having a "massive huddle" with Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), the Republican Whip.

Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), the chair of the subcommittee that controls the Financial Services and General Government spending legislation, then met with Emmer.

Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) told reporters, “The federal government is once again at risk of shutting down because extreme MAGA Republicans in the House are apparently determined to do just that, unless they manage to extract extreme ransom demands.”

He went on to tell Max Cohen that if Republicans can’t come together with Democrats for a funding measure, “then the only approach is to pass a continuing resolution at the fiscal year 2023 levels.”

Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-NY) told Cohen and other reporters he’s against the appropriations bill and expects five to eight House Republicans will also oppose it. Cohen noted that it isn't a good sign for new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and his leadership.

Whatever bill the House passes must also pass the U.S. Senate, held by Democrats, and get an agreement to be signed by President Joe Biden. It's the reason that Jeffries believes a far-right bill won't go anywhere.

Biden told reporters at Andrews Air Force Base that he's willing to work with Republicans in the House, including on border spending.