Shutdown fight looms amid House-Senate disaster aid impasse (The Hill)

[chill_wind]

Shutdown fight looms amid House-Senate disaster aid impasse
By Russell Berman - 09/20/11 02:23 PM ET

(intro snip)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the Senate would amend and send back the House bill if Republicans do not increase the amount of federal disaster aid, and the No. 2 House Democrat, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), said Democrats in the lower chamber would be “loathe” to support the measure as written.

Both chambers are scheduled to be on recess next week, meaning they need to resolve their differences before leaving town. The opposition from Democrats increases the possibility of another shutdown fight, a prospect that leaders in both parties have said they want to avoid.

House Republicans plan to bring up the spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, on Wednesday. The measure would fund the government through Nov. 18 and contains $3.65 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, less than the $6.9 billion in relief the Senate approved in a standalone measure last week.

(snip)

It remains unclear whether Democrats will vote en masse against the bill. The party’s top appropriator, Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), has said he would support the bill despite his criticisms of its offsets for disaster aid. Republican leaders may need Democratic votes because they face opposition from some conservatives who want them to push for deeper spending cuts in fiscal 2012.

more:

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/182621-democrats-ramp-up-criticism-of-gop-spending-bill

[Angry Dragon]

1. It is just a game to them, they don't feel they need to give up

anything, they just like to see others suffer and tell them to tighten their belts.
One even says, John C Fleming, while collecting a taxpayer paid salary and only having $400,000 left after paying all of his bills, that he pays enough taxes already and it is unfair for you to ask him to pay more.

And after working for about two weeks they need another vacation??
And they talk about lazy people collecting money from the feds.......... I guess they got rid of all their mirrors......

[chill_wind]

4. Another vacation already.

I know. Just shaking my head.

[dtexdem]

5. Now, now, children need regular recess.

After all, it's not like Congressional Repukes were adults.

[TwilightGardener]

2. They're going to use desperate people in dire straits to force Dems to

cut already-existing programs. Nice. Hope they all enjoy hell.

[chill_wind]

3. TPM:

(snip)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) says he'll send the funding bill back to the House, with more disaster relief money, and no controversial spending cuts to pay for it unless Republicans back down. They show no signs of doing that.

(snip)

A few things are going on here. Senate Democrats, and nearly a dozen Republicans, want more money for FEMA than the House is offering up. And Democrats in both chambers oppose the offset House Republicans have chosen -- a fund meant to spur production of hybrid vehicles.

All the ingredients are there for gridlock. But there are a number of possible resolutions. House Republicans may not have the votes on to pass their funding bill on their own and would then have to cut a deal with Democrats on disaster relief. If they do, Senate Democrats could ultimately back down, and use GOP intransigence over disaster funding as a political weapon in the 2012 elections. But if both parties dig in, we'll go down to the wire of a government shutdown again.

Top Republicans: Government Shutdown Over Disaster Aid Will Fall On Reid’s Shoulders
Brian Beutler | September 20, 201
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/top-republicans-government-shutdown-over-disaster-aid-will-fall-on-reids-shoulders.php?ref=fpa

[WI_DEM]

6. keep the asshats in session even if they miss their precious vacations

They certainly don't mind taking lots of vacations.

[chill_wind]

7. Reid: "We're not going to cave on this" (The Hill)

(...)

Criticizing House Republicans for the disaster relief provisions in their budget bill, Reid told reporters, "We're not going to cave on this."



Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Tuesday confidently predicted the two sides will come together by Thursday night: "There wil not be a government shutdown."

Reid, however, said, "I'm not that sure" there won't be a shutdown. He added, "I am not as certain as McConnell."

Reid warns shutdown is possible
By Bob Cusack - 09/20/11 02:59 PM ET
http://thehill.com/homenews/news/182679-reid-government-shutdown-is-possible