"McCarthy's fall: Democrats share the blame"
House Rules Chair Tom Cole has stated that the deep appropriations cuts agreed upon by Kevin McCarthy and conservatives last June are now void since McCarthy is no longer the speaker. Cole's comments could embolden GOP centrists to challenge the spending deal. The House Appropriations Committee has struggled to comply with the deal, with only four out of twelve bills passed so far. The collapse of the agriculture appropriations bill last month highlighted the confusion and disappointment surrounding the poorly written agreement. The dynamics in the race for the next speaker are different, as the leading candidates are more right-leaning and will need the support of centrists. The House will need Cole's help in dealing with the upcoming spending crisis when government funding expires on November 17. The Senate Appropriations Committee has taken a different approach, writing its bills in accordance with the caps set in the debt ceiling agreement, resulting in a significant gap between the two chambers.