Democrats met Thursday to strategize for the political battle ahead as they prepare to oppose the Republican Party’s continuing resolution (C.R.) to raise the debt ceiling. The proposed C.R. includes provisions for additional government job cuts, a point of major contention among Democrats.
Speaking to reporters, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) dismissed the current House bill, which would fund the government for six months, as a “non-starter.” She emphasized that both parties already have a near-complete budget and argued that a clean, 30-day resolution would provide the necessary time to finalize a comprehensive spending package.
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“So, four more weeks. Short term. Keep the government open and let’s get the work done,” Warren said. When asked about the ongoing back-and-forth over the resolution, Warren was blunt: “It’s not a game.”
“The problem is it’s hard to vote for a bill that says that the Republicans get to fire another 25,000 veterans. The Republicans get to move as many old people in nursing homes out on the street as they want and the Republicans get to shut down our education system. That’s a hard bill to vote for,”
Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), whose state is home to many federal workers affected by budget cuts, echoed concerns over the House bill. When asked if amendments could be added to gain his support, he responded with a firm “no.” According to National Public Radio (NPR), the House C.R. was crafted without bipartisan input. Warner speculated that Senate Republicans had little to no influence on the House proposal.
Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) stressed that his constituents expect him to “push back” against the bill. He opposes the C.R. on constitutional grounds, arguing that it grants the executive branch the authority to implement budget cuts—a power he says belongs solely to Congress.
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“Pushing back and defending Congress’ historic role, constitutionally mandated role, of controlling the purse,” Hickenlooper told reporters. “We turn that over, when’s it going to stop? If we just go ahead and sign the resolution … I mean that’ll be the last time they ask our opinion about anything.”
When asked about Republican efforts to blame Democrats for a potential government shutdown, Hickenlooper remained resolute. “At a certain point, you’ve got to rely on the truth and what is really better for the country — and long term. Sometimes, that puts you in really difficult situations.” With tensions high and both parties digging in, the fate of the government’s funding remains uncertain.
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