Are they growing some balls?

Democratic opposition mounts to GOP stopgap funding measure

House Democrats believe the message from their leadership is to vote “no” on the bill.

Riley Rogerson

House Democrats are making clear they’re in no mood to back a Republican-led bill punting a government funding fight to after the midterms — potentially dooming the GOP effort.

Leaving their weekly caucus meeting Tuesday morning, Democrats blasted Republicans for seeking to circumvent the bipartisan appropriations process by scheduling a vote for Tuesday evening on a stopgap funding measure that would extend federal spending levels until Dec. 4.

“It’s an abdication of responsibility to the country at a critical time,” Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, a senior Democratic appropriator, said in an interview.

“If you want our support, you should want to negotiate with us in good faith,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) agreed.

And while Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York did not announce plans for Democratic leadership to whip against the continuing resolution, he expressed strong opposition to the plan at a leadership meeting Monday, according to four people granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation.

Multiple lawmakers left their caucus meeting Tuesday under the impression that Democratic leaders were firmly in the “no” camp — a break from precedent where Democrats have traditionally supported “clean” stopgap funding bills.

The No. 3 House Democrat, Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, said at a news conference following the meeting that “I’ll be voting ‘no.’ And if any members ask, I would encourage them to do the same.”

If Democrats unite in voting against the measure, it’s not clear whether Republicans will be able to make up for the shortfall, as many fiscal hawks are never inclined to vote for continuing resolutions. Aguilar, however, also underscored at his news conference that this was not “a serious proposal,” with Senate Republicans unlikely to take up the House measure.

“It’s kind of a Trojan horse scenario here,” Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland, another Democratic appropriator, said of the Republican bill in an interview after the caucus meeting.

The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, outlined her opposition in the Tuesday morning members’ meeting, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

She is seeking explicit language that prohibits funding for Customs and Border Protection and is also circulating a fact sheet laying out her issues with the legislation.