House Republican weighs voting against funding bill over electric vehicles

Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) said she’d consider voting against a bill to fund the government if it does not bar a Biden rule aiming to bolster electric vehicles. 

McClain said during a Wednesday press conference it’s “a hard line for me” to prevent an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would be expected to make two-thirds of new car sales electric in 2032. 

“I am tired of the government telling me what I can do, what I can drive, what I can cook my food with,” she said. 

Asked directly if she would vote against an appropriations bill that did not block the EPA rule, McClain told The Hill she would “look at any bill before I’m going to tell you how I’m going to vote,” but she “won’t take that option off the table.”

She added she would “absolutely” consider not voting for a funding bill over the issue. 

Her comments add a potential complication to the already difficult task before appropriators of piecing together a bill that will get buy-in from both the Democratic-controlled Senate and the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority. 

Republicans have had several internal clashes over budget issues and ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) after he moved to avert a shutdown.

In recent days, members of the hard-right Freedom Caucus softened their demands on spending. But at the same time, they have also reportedly pushed Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to fight aggressively for their priorities, even by risking a government shutdown.

Last week, more than 200 Republicans signed onto a letter led by McClain calling for incorporating language to bar the EPA rule in an appropriations bill. It’s unclear whether any others would consider voting against a funding bill over the issue.