After six and a half hours of delay and uncertainty, House Republican leaders announced a vote Thursday on a spending bill that faces fierce opposition on the left and right and threw Congress into chaos.
The vote comes just three hours before the government is poised to shut down if Congress doesn’t pass a bill that President Barack Obama signs by midnight.
Many expect the spending bill to fail, with conservative Republicans angry that it permits Obama’s immigration actions, and progressive Democrats furious about provisions that weaken rules on banks and loosen campaign.
The GOP’s fallback option is a short-term “continuing resolution” that keeps funds flowing at existing levels for two or three months.
The GOP divisions are typical: leaders and mainstream members versus the right flank, which constantly gives them trouble. The Democratic divisions are unusual and bitter: the White House, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) support the spending bill, while House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) oppose it due to the Wall Street and campaign finance add-ons.
“I’m giving you the leverage to do whatever you have to do. We have enough votes to show them never to do this again,” Pelosi told her members after an hours-long closed door meeting, according to a source in the room.
Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), a leadership member and Pelosi ally, said Democrats must draw a “red line” against the “big banks” and “big donors” if they want to be credible advocates for the middle class.
On the other end, Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), a member of the Appropriations Committee, said it would be a “travesty” if Democrats let the bill fail. He said numerous Democrats are opposing it because “they’re not going to let Elizabeth Warren get to the left of them.”
White House chief of staff Denis McDonough paid a visit to the Democratic meeting and encouraged members to support the bill, arguing that Republicans would have more leverage in the event of a three-month continuing resolution that kicks the fight to early next year when they’ll control both houses of Congress.
The Senate is prepared to move on Thursday night after the House acts, a Senate Democratic leadership aide said.
