House Democrats have “no idea” how the Republicans intend to avoid a government shutdown on Oct. 1, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Wednesday.
Hoyer, the minority whip, said the Democrats are prepared to help GOP leaders move a continuing resolution (CR) in the face of a conservative revolt over Planned Parenthood funding, but have so far been excluded from the debate.
{mosads}”I’ve had no discussions with any Republican [about the CR],” Hoyer told reporters in the Capitol.
He’s not alone.
Neither Rep. Nita Lowey (N.Y.), senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, nor Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), ranking member of the Budget panel, has had “any substantive discussion” with the chairmen of those committees “on how they [Republicans] are going to move forward,” Hoyer said.
“So from my standpoint, I have no idea — substantively — what the Republicans are proposing … to move forward so that by Sept. 30 we fund the government of the United States,” Hoyer said.
The debate over government spending has been a perennial thorn in the side of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders since they took control of the lower chamber in 2011.
On one hand, they are being pressured by President Obama and the Democrats to increase spending levels. On the other, they are being hounded from the right by conservatives who have pushed not only for deep cuts, but also controversial amendments with no chance of winning the president’s signature.
Those dynamics are playing out this month as GOP leaders are scrambling for ways to move a short-term spending bill and prevent a government shutdown on Oct. 1. More than 40 House Republicans are vowing to vote against any bill that continues funding for Planned Parenthood, meaning Boehner will likely need Democratic help to move a spending package that can pass the Senate and win acceptance from Obama.
Boehner has been forced to rely on Democratic support several times in recent years to reopen parts of the government after partisan fighting led to a shutdown, most notably in October of 2013. Hoyer said the Democrats are ready to help the Speaker again, if the CR is “a compromise, not an edict.”
“Will Democrats provide votes?” he asked. “The answer to your question not only is yes, but obviously that’s what we’ve done in the past.
“But that was done when we get to a compromise that was a reasonable, rational compromise that the president of the United States would sign and that Democrats could agree to,” Hoyer added.
The Republicans took much of the political blame for the 2013 shutdown, and both Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) say they want to keep the government open, especially as the presidential primary season gains steam.
House Republicans are scheduled to huddle in the Capitol Wednesday afternoon to discuss a path forward.
Hoyer, meanwhile, noting that there are only eight legislative days left in the month, minced no words in going after GOP leaders.
“Not to have a plan … as to how we’re going to keep government open eight days from now –– and not considering anything on the floor this week that will move us toward that objective –– is dysfunctional,” Hoyer said. “And if I were the leader or the Speaker I’d be ashamed of the fact that I’m in this position.”