The Road to Shutdown: House Republicans Vie for a Safe Passage, but Obstacles Loom

With the national debt hovering near $35 trillion, some House Republicans are privately expressing concerns about the potential political fallout of a partial government shutdown just weeks before the November midterm elections. House GOP leaders are pushing for a plan to avoid a shutdown that's tied to a Trump-backed elections bill, but Senate Democrats are unlikely to support it.

In an interview with Fox Business, Fisher Investments founder and chair Ken Fisher discussed the national debt, which is approaching $35 trillion. Fisher expressed concern about the impact of government spending on the economy and the long-term consequences of a mounting national debt. He also provided his market outlook, emphasizing the importance of investors maintaining a diversified portfolio to weather market volatility.

Some House Republicans are privately worrying about how a partial government shutdown would affect their electoral chances in November. One lawmaker told Fox News Digital, "If we shut down, we lose." Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has unveiled a plan to avoid a partial shutdown, but it faces obstacles in the Senate. Johnson's plan involves extending current funding levels for six months while negotiators hash out next year's spending priorities.

The Road to Shutdown: House Republicans Vie for a Safe Passage, but Obstacles Loom

House Republican leaders are pushing for a plan to avoid a government shutdown that's tied to a Trump-backed elections bill. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would add a proof of citizenship requirement to the voter registration process. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the White House have publicly opposed the bill, making it unlikely to pass the Senate.

Some House Republicans have expressed concerns about linking the government shutdown plan to the elections bill, fearing that it will make it more difficult to reach a compromise with Senate Democrats. As one Republican put it, "My problem isn't with the policy, which I support. My problem isn't with the messaging, which I think is strong. My problem is that I just don't think Chuck Schumer is going to agree to it."

The Road to Shutdown: House Republicans Vie for a Safe Passage, but Obstacles Loom

Past government shutdowns, such as those under the Obama and Trump administrations, have typically seen Americans blame the GOP. Republicans are aware of this historical pattern and are hesitant to be seen as responsible for a shutdown just before an election.

Some House Republicans are particularly vulnerable to the potential fallout from a shutdown, especially those who represent blue states. As one Republican noted, "The Republicans have the majority today because we won seats in California and [other blue states]. Those seem to be members who'd be most disadvantaged by a shutdown in the four weeks before an election."

The Road to Shutdown: House Republicans Vie for a Safe Passage, but Obstacles Loom

Veteran GOP strategist Doug Heye said a possible shutdown could have less of an impact given it's a presidential election year, but he warns that it's a risk to take. He notes that "Republicans usually get blamed for shutdowns, and that could play into Harris' 'Trump-as-chaos' argument."

Other Republicans have dismissed fears of political blowback in the event of a government shutdown. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) said, "The legacy media makes these shutdowns worse than they are. … Nobody loses their house, nobody loses a dime. They all get made whole."

The Road to Shutdown: House Republicans Vie for a Safe Passage, but Obstacles Loom

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), one of the architects of the SAVE Act, declined to say whether he'd want a shutdown if the Johnson plan failed to pass. He emphasized the need to secure elections and said Democrats would be responsible for any potential shutdown if they refuse to compromise.