Many Republicans worked with Democrats in the House of Representatives over the weekend to pass a temporary spending bill, averting a government shutdown. 

U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro was one of those members, although he told Capital Tonight that he would characterize the deal as Democrats joining with Republicans to pass a bill, not the other way around. 

Molinaro, who represents New York's 19th Congressional District, explained that his top priority is making government “actually work for the people."

“Here in Congress, I’ve been fighting to drive down federal spending, focus on fighting inflation, securing our border and making government function. And the backstop in budget negotiation has always been to avert a shutdown while forcing and focusing on those issues,” he said.

Molinaro also downplayed the news that right-wing Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz has vocally threatened Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s job over the temporary budget deal. 

“That’s a lot of inside baseball that I know gets played out on TV, and I get it, but I will also say that I spent 10 days, deeply in negotiation, not only with those conservative members but also with those Democrats with whom I work,” he said.  “And the focus, by the way, has been the same. Drive down spending, focus on inflation and confront the border.”

When asked if he blames the more conservative wing of the Republican conference for not passing a more comprehensive bill, Molinaro told Capital Tonight he doesn’t place blame, but he did point out that their decision not to vote for a more conservative bill led to the deal with Democrats. 

“Those more conservative members denied support for a conservative bill which, of course, led to us who have said…we will not allow for a government shutdown, we will continue to focus on strengthening the American economy,” he said.

Molinaro, who expressed his support for Speaker Kevin McCarthy, also made it clear he lacks patience for any kind of internal drama between McCarthy and Gaetz.

“I don’t have the tolerance or the patience, nor do the people I represent have the tolerance or patience, for some pseudo, psycho, political fetish playing out in someone’s mind,” he said. “This, for us, is about delivering real results. And that’s what I’m focused on.”

Molinaro also discussed his support for aid for Ukraine and former President Donald Trump’s legal jeopardy.