In a critical juncture for Congress, House Republicans find themselves divided over whether to support a short-term government funding extension, as two shutdown deadlines loom next week. The disagreement stems from the timing of the extension, with differing opinions on when it should be implemented.

Representative Steve Womack, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, expressed his belief that January 19th is an impractical target. He agrees with Senator John Thune's suggestion of a deadline sometime in March, providing adequate time to address the funding issue. Womack acknowledged the inevitability of the situation, stating, "we knew this was coming."

Meanwhile, Representative Brian Mast advocates for using a government shutdown as leverage to advance GOP policy goals. This stance highlights the divisiveness within the Republican party regarding the strategy to be employed.

The internal divisions among House Republicans echo the fractures that plagued the conference last year. On Wednesday, a group of 12 conservatives staged a protest vote, effectively stalling a procedural measure and further complicating government funding talks. The unexpected disruption paralyzed the House floor and led to the cancellation of remaining votes for the day, raising concerns about the ability to reach a deal by next Friday.

The current funding deal, negotiated by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, created a split deadline. Some agencies are funded through January 19th, while others have until February 2nd to secure funding. However, an additional complication arises due to negotiations between Schumer and McCarthy, as a yearlong continuing resolution would trigger a 1% government funding cut in April. This potential standoff increases the likelihood of a government shutdown.

Amid the divergent views, Representative French Hill, another senior member of the Appropriations Committee, advocates for a short-term continuing resolution to avoid a shutdown. Hill emphasizes that a shutdown would not benefit Republicans or the country, while taxpayers would endure the consequences.

In contrast, Republican Study Committee Chair Kevin Hern sees a potential shutdown as a means to push Congress towards reaching a deal, but only for a short period of time. Hern believes that a shutdown can accelerate policy discussions and funding negotiations.

On the Senate side, leaders have acknowledged the possibility of a short-term continuing resolution. While some remain noncommittal, Senator Ron Johnson expressed the priority of completing appropriations and the concerted effort to reach a resolution.

As tensions rise in the House of Representatives, the urgency to find a solution to the impending government funding deadline mounts. With conflicting viewpoints within the Republican party and a potential standoff looming, the path forward remains uncertain. It remains to be seen whether the divisions can be bridged and a consensus reached to avert a government shutdown.