http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/250223-mcconnells-vow-no-more-government-shutdowns By Alexander Bolton - 08/04/15 03:26 PM EDT
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says he will not allow a government shutdown this fall and has pledged to begin talks “at some point.”
McConnell on Tuesday said he is willing to negotiate with Democrats to solve the funding impasse, after refusing for weeks to participate in the budget summit they have been calling for.
“Let me say it again, no more government shutdowns,” he told reporters.
He added that he would find a way forward “through negotiations.”
“We have divided government. The different parties control the Congress, control the White House and at some point we’ll negotiate the way forward,” he said. “At some point we’ll negotiate the way forward.”
Government funding is due to expire at the end of September and Democrats are warning of a shutdown as the Senate has failed to pass any appropriations bills because of a dispute over spending levels for defense and non-defense programs.
“We should of rolled up our sleeves weeks ago and started this conversation between the House, the Senate and the White House to come up with a budget for America that is fair,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.).
New York Sen. Charles Schumer, the third-ranking member of the Democratic leadership, warned Republicans would risk a shutdown by trying to add controversial policy riders, such as a proposal to defund Planned Parenthood, to a year-end spending bill.
“If they try to add extraneous riders and say, “You have to keep those riders,” important riders where there’s great disagreements in the country about … they’re headed for a government shutdown,” he said.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) said there’s been little sign as of yet that Republicans are ready to hash out a spending end game.
“I checked with the White House today, not a word,” he said. “I don’t understand when this negotiation is going to start. We’re ready.”
