McConnell Introduces Short-Term Spending Bill To Dodge Gov’t Shutdown, Dems Push Back

Democratic senators are vowing to block a continuing resolutionintroduced by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Thursday.

“There have been broad requests for a clean continuing resolution, so that’s what I’vejust offered,” McConnell said on the House floor while filing forcloture. “It’s the result of many, many hours of bipartisanwork on both sides of the aisle.”

But Democrats reject the claim that the proposed resolutionis a clean bill, lambasting the must-pass, stop-gap spendinglegislation for excluding provisions to providefunding for the Flint water crisis and language to restore theExport-Import Bank’s full power. These are issues Democratsemphasized would need to be included for them to support themeasure.

Flint aid was a particular sticking point for Democrats, whoargued it should paired with the funding provided for flood victimsin Louisiana, Maryland and West Virginia, which was included in thebill’s text.

The bill also includes a provision stopping the Securitiesand Exchange Commission from requiring companies to disclosepolitical donations.

Republicans relinquished a number of their goals, including theSen. Ted Cruz-led effort to block the Internet Corporation forAssigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) transfer an issue recently endorsed by GOPnominee Donald Trump.

“I am profoundly disappointed that Senate negotiators appear tohave given in to the White House demands to hand over increasedcontrol of the Internet to authoritarian regimes like China,Russia, and Iran.  This is one more example why the Americanpeople are so fed up with Washington, because they expect all of us— Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike — to protect freespeech online,” Cruz said in a statement provided to The DailyCaller News Foundation.

“I am grateful for my Senate colleagues’ vigorous support duringthis debate, and I encourage my colleagues in the House to continueto stand united to ensure that the government funding bill preventsthe Obama administration from permanently undermining free speechon the Internet.”

Cruz’s office did not respond on whether he would vote for thebill or filibuster due to the omission of the ICANNprovision.

Illinois Democrat Sen. Dick Durbin told reporters the impasseraises the chances of a government shutdown.

“If there is one responsibility of the governing party has, inthis case the Republicans, it’s not to let the government shutdown,” he said. “But you know, tell that to Ted Cruz, if he get’sanother chance to read Dr. Suess, he might jump at it.”

Hawaii Democrat Sen. Brian Schatz echoed Durbin’s sentiments,sayingthere is no way the party will get behind the bill.

“They are not facing reality yet, I don’t think they realize howunited we are,” he said.

While parties remain at odds, lawmakers were able to come to aconsensus on funding for the Zika crisis, opioid epidemic andthe Toxic Substances Control Act.

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