Senate Democrats, a Few Republicans, Have Votes to Block Spending Bill
Murray: It’s time for GOP to “get real”
Senate Democrats have the votes necessary to block the chamber from advancing a short-term spending bill should the House approve it Thursday evening, according to Democratic senators and aides.
“I do,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen replied when asked if Democrats have enough support to block the four-week continuing resolution.
“I think we need good-faith negotiations that are really going to address the problem,” the New Hampshire Democrat said.
A senior Democratic aide confirmed that Democratic opposition means the bill does not have the 60 votes needed to advance.
“The House bill … there is not the votes in the Senate Democratic caucus to be given to the Republicans to get the votes,” Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said. “They’ve had this game in front of them for four months now and haven’t solved it. It’s time for them to get real, be adults and solve the problem.”
Apart from Democrats, some Republicans — including Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Mike Rounds of South Dakota and Rand Paul of Kentucky — said they also plan to vote against it.
Government funding is set to end after Jan. 19, and some GOP leaders have ruled out any patch shorter than the four-week CR.
“It just doesn’t make any sense because what’s holding all this up is the agreement on the spending caps. And until that’s done, we’re not gonna be able to do the big omnibus bill,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said. “The only reason the Democrats are not doing that is because they want to try to force our hand on DACA. So a couple of days isn’t gonna change anything.”