20 Senate Republicans. Including Scott and Cruz, vow to block all non-budget legislation

Florida Sen. Rick Scott and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are headlining a bloc of 20 Republicans in their chamber seeking to stonewall all legislation unrelated to government funding until Congress approves all of its appropriations bills.

The lawmakers warned Senate Majority Leader Schuck Schumer of their intentions amid an intense congressional battle over spending that saw House conservatives take the unprecedented step of ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy. At issue are 12 annual spending bills, which Congress must approve by Nov. 17 following the passage of a continuing resolution this weekend to avert a government shutdown.

"Nothing can stand in the way of this work. For this reason, we the undersigned senators pledge to withhold our support for any vote to proceed to items unrelated to appropriations bills," they warned Schumer, in a letter that The Hill obtained. "We urge you to present a plan to the Republican Conference for how you intend to pass the remaining appropriations bills and conference them with the House in a manner that respects an open amendment process and which does not end in a December omnibus spending package."

The group appears to have broad support in the conference, with conservative firebrands such as Sens. Mike Lee, Utah, and Tommy Tuberville, Ala., siding with GOP Whip John Thune, S.D., and Sen. John Cornyn, Texas, both of whom stand firmly in the moderate camp. Other key GOP leaders who have signed on to the effort include Conference Chair John Barrasso, Wyo., Vice Chair Shelley Moore-Capito, W.Va., and GOP Policy Committee Chair Joni Ernst, Iowa.

Schumer has already sent the upper chamber home for the Columbus Day recess, which will leave lawmakers precious little time to approve legislation when they return.

The lower chamber, meanwhile, faces the delay of the impending leadership contest to replace McCarthy, for which they will meet next Wednesday.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.