As deadline looms, GOP unclear of path to keep the government open

The White House is focused on scoring a "win" by getting enough Republicans on board to pass some sort of Obamacare repeal before Congress adjourns for two weeks. But others in the GOP say lawmakers should be more concerned about the looming deadline that could see the government close.

"It's kinda important," Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, said about keeping the government funded beyond April 28. "I hope people can stay focused on keeping the government open, because it is important.

There are a lot of members who are individually talking about it," continued Stivers, who is a deputy whip. "But it's not in the collective speak because — you know lots of people drive looking in their rearview mirror and I think we need to look out the windshield as we're heading forward and what's next is government funding."

The government will run out of money four days after Congress returns from its Easter recess unless lawmakers continue funding it at current levels through a continuing resolution or finish funding fiscal 2017 through a multi-spending-bill, omnibus package.

"We're talking a matter of days before some other really big things come up that have to be addressed," Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Fla., told the Washington Examiner. "It would have been a lot easier to tackle those things if healthcare was already done; maybe that's why there's this sort of late second push to do it this week.