Senate Republicans oppose Schumer’s delay tactics amid new shutdown threat.

Senate Republicans Criticize Schumer for Delaying Must-Pass Appropriations Bills

Senate Republicans are voicing their frustration ‍with Senate Majority ‍Leader Chuck Schumer‌ (D-NY) ‌for not prioritizing⁢ the ‌must-pass appropriations ⁤bills in the next two ‍weeks, as⁣ the deadline to avoid a government shutdown ‌looms. This delay in floor time has raised concerns among Republicans, who are eager to see progress on these crucial bills.

The Senate’s workweek ⁤has been shortened to just Tuesday‌ and Wednesday⁢ due to the cancellation of Thursday’s​ votes, allowing members to attend the funeral of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in California. The votes‌ scheduled for these two session days are focused on advancing President‌ Joe Biden’s nominations.

After an extended workweek, where ⁢senators were required to stay in Washington ‍through late Saturday⁤ evening, Congress managed to temporarily ‌avert a government shutdown by passing a 45-day continuing resolution. However, both the House ‍and Senate now have until‌ November 17 ‌to ⁣pass their ⁢respective appropriations bills and send‌ them⁢ to the conference committee for ⁢further deliberation.

Leading Republicans,⁣ including Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), have⁣ expressed their disappointment with Schumer’s Senate schedule. ⁣They are urging him to ⁤prioritize the appropriations bills and ensure ⁢that ⁢the Senate dedicates ‍sufficient ​time to address them.

Sen. Cornyn stated,​ “The best I can tell⁤ is probably for the next two‌ weeks, the Senate⁣ won’t be making any progress. So ⁤unfortunately, we‌ may find ourselves back where‍ we found ourselves this weekend in⁢ 45 days. Sen. Schumer seems disinterested in making any progress.”

Sen. Collins, the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, expressed surprise at the decision to focus on non-urgent ⁤nominations instead of the appropriations bills. She emphasized the importance of working diligently to pass these bills and called on Schumer ⁤to prioritize them.

Senate GOP Conference ⁤Chairman John Barrasso (R-WY) criticized Schumer for not putting any of the appropriations bills on the floor this week, stating that it‍ slows down their⁤ critical⁢ work in holding the Biden⁤ administration accountable.

Even‍ Democrats on the Appropriations Committee are urging Schumer to⁢ schedule⁤ floor votes on the bills, as they have already been ‌passed by the committee with bipartisan‌ support. Sen. ⁢Chris Coons (D-DE) ‌expressed his hope to see the bills on ‍the ‍floor, emphasizing their broad support within the committee.

While Schumer did not respond ⁢to ⁢the ⁣criticism‍ when asked by ⁢the Washington Examiner, it is clear that both Republicans and Democrats are eager to see progress on the appropriations bills. The fate of these bills ⁢and⁢ the potential​ government shutdown hang​ in the balance.

When Congress ⁤decides to pass a ​continuing resolution instead of a federal budget what are they actually doing?

If Congress has not enacted the ‌regular⁣ appropriations bills by the ‌time, it can pass a continuing resolution, which continues the pre-existing appropriations at the same levels as the previous fiscal year (or with ⁢minor modifications) for a set ⁣amount of time. Nment shutdown by passing a⁤ Continuing Resolution (CR) on September 30th. However, this CR only ‌provides ⁢funding ​through December 3rd, meaning that Congress must ‍pass appropriations bills or ‌another CR before ​that date to avoid a​ government shutdown.

Senate Republicans argue that Schumer’s decision to ‍prioritize⁣ Biden’s nominations over the appropriations bills is a significant concern. They ⁤believe it is essential to focus on funding the government and meeting the needs of the American people rather than advancing nominations, especially​ when the deadline is fast approaching.

Schumer’s decision to shorten the workweek further exacerbates Republicans’ concerns. By⁣ canceling Thursday’s votes, the Senate has ‌even less time to address the crucial appropriations bills. ⁢This delay ‍in floor⁤ time reduces the opportunity⁢ for meaningful debate, amendments, and negotiation,‌ hindering the progress​ on these⁢ vital pieces of legislation.

Democrats argue that prioritizing nominations ⁤is ⁢warranted, given the need‍ to fill important positions within​ the Biden administration. They believe that getting the right people‌ in place to carry out the president’s agenda is ​essential for the effective functioning‌ of the government.‌ Additionally, Democrats argue that ⁤there is still ⁢time‍ to‍ address the appropriations bills before the deadline and that it is not necessary to panic or rush the process.

However, Republicans remain ⁤concerned that the timeline is‍ rapidly shrinking, and Democrats do not seem to be prioritizing it. They argue that‍ the appropriations bills should⁢ be given immediate attention and​ that the Senate should devote more time to these critical pieces of legislation.

This ⁤criticism from Senate Republicans raises questions about the Senate’s ability to fulfill one of its⁢ most fundamental responsibilities: funding the government. Failure to pass appropriations‍ bills or another CR by⁢ December 3rd ​would result in a government shutdown, ⁣disrupting essential services and‌ negatively impacting millions of Americans.

It is crucial for Senate Majority Leader Schumer to address these concerns raised by Senate⁢ Republicans promptly. By prioritizing the must-pass appropriations bills and allocating more floor ​time for their consideration, Schumer ‌can demonstrate a commitment to the smooth functioning of the government and bipartisan cooperation.

While it is understandable ⁢that Democrats want to ⁣advance President Biden’s nominations, the ‌urgency of passing appropriations bills cannot be ignored. Both parties must work together to ensure that the government ​remains funded, and the needs of the American people are met.

In the⁣ coming weeks, it will ⁤become clear whether Schumer and Senate Democrats heed these criticisms and ⁢take ⁤decisive action to prioritize the appropriations bills or continue ​to focus on ⁤nominations. The stakes ⁢are high, and the American people are looking to their ⁢elected officials to put aside political differences and work in the ⁣best interest of the country.