09.29.15

Senate Set to Pass Funding Bill

‘This bill hardly represents my preferred method for funding the government, but it’s now the most viable way forward after Democrats’ extreme actions forced our country into this situation.’

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the Continuing Resolution (CR):

“Last night, 77 Senators voted to advance legislation that would keep the government funded through the fall at the bipartisan level agreed to by both parties.

“This bill hardly represents my preferred method for funding the government, but it’s now the most viable way forward after Democrats’ extreme actions forced our country into this situation.

“Let’s remember how we got here.

“Democrats knew the American people were unlikely to buy their desire for more bureaucracy and more debt, but figured they might in a crisis. So Democrats pursued a deliberate strategy of blocking government funding all year in order to force our nation to the brink.

“Democrats said they’d block government funding legislation they’d voted for in committee.

“Democrats said they’d block government funding legislation they’d praised in press releases.

“Democrats even voted repeatedly to block the bill that funds our military — to repeatedly block the bill that funds medical care and pay raises for our troops

“That’s how far Democrats were willing to go, at a time of daunting international threats, in order to tear down the normal government funding process and force our country into this situation.

“Well, I’m not prepared to let Democrats lead us over the cliff.

“The bill before us would keep the government open and allow time for cooler heads to prevail.

“That’s why I joined 76 other Senators in voting to advance it yesterday.

“But look.

“Obviously, the best way to fund the government is by first passing a budget, and then passing appropriations bills.

“The Senate already passed a budget.

“The Senate is prepared to pass appropriations legislation too — all that’s needed is for Democrats to drop their endless filibusters.

“We know that nearly all of these funding bills are bipartisan. We know that Democrats have supported and praised them. And with the CR behind us, we can turn back to the work of trying to pass them.”

Related Issues: Appropriations, Senate Democrats