The White House has taken a new tack in the showdown with Congress over a possible government shutdown, accusing House Republicans of jeopardizing funds to fight the deadly fentanyl drug scourge.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates said in a memo on Tuesday that House GOP conservatives are on the verge of turning their backs on funding the government, and one consequence would be to hold up hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to combat fentanyl trafficking.
The White House memo comes amid partisan posturing over federal spending as Congress returns from its monthlong summer break. Time is rapidly dwindling to advance a dozen spending measures through the House and Senate to avoid a government shutdown, or at least pass a stopgap spending measure to keep the government open and allow talks to proceed.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, has also laid out an ultimatum, saying she will not vote to fund the government unless the House votes on an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, a demand Mr. Bates singled out in his memo. Regarding fentanyl, the memo noted that Mr. Biden has requested Congress to advance $800 million in spending to fight trafficking in the highly addictive artificial opioid and “counter the deadly substance being illegally imported from China.” The president has also requested $450 million to help those dealing with opioid overdoses.
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