Tea Party Rep.: Budget deal ‘will not necessarily’ avoid government shutdown

An outspoken House conservative says the bipartisan budget deal may not prevent a government shutdown in January.

Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) told The Hill that the two-year budget deal set for a House vote later Thursday “will not necessarily” prevent another government shutdown from happening in mid-January. The Congress will still have to pass an appropriations bill by January 15, he added.

{mosads}But the sophomore, Tea Party-aligned lawmaker predicted that leaders will avoid a government shutdown by giving “more money to everybody else” to appease Democrats and “moderate Republicans.”

Huelskamp criticized his leadership for “really attacking outside conservative groups and constituents that are concerned about this.”

Huelskamp said he intends to vote “no” on the deal struck by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Budget Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-Wash.)