You mean my jazz hands aren't enough?
House Democrats have no love for the GOP leadership and some don't appear inclined to help John Boehner avoid the shutdown the government is heading for on September 30,
reports Dierdre Walsh.
As California Democratic Rep. Xavier Becerra put it to CNN Wednesday, "I certainly know that there is a growing frustration among Democrats that we're not allowed in the room to help come up with the solution, but we're expected to stop the Republicans from killing themselves."
Mitch McConnell has planned a Thursday vote that would fund the government through early December but also strip funds from Planned Parenthood. After that fails, McConnell will likely bring a "clean" short-term funding bill to vote that would keep Planned Parenthood funding intact—leaving the ball in Boehner's court. He has to contend with the House crazy caucus:
some 30 lawmakers who are vowing to doom any bill that funds the women's health services organization. That means, yet again, Dems might be the linchpin to passage. But some House Democrats are saying enough is enough to lurching from manufactured crisis to manufactured crisis.
Becerra, who chairs the House Democratic Caucus, said he is considering voting against a short-term funding bill, even if it doesn't include any language to defund Planned Parenthood.
"I'm not interested in this Republican chaos," he said, telling CNN that he opposes yet another bill that governs the country in "fits and starts."
Steny Hoyer, however, is sending a slightly more
conciliatory message while stopping short of promises.
Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said his caucus would need to review the specifics of any Senate-passed measure, but he expects House Democrats will join Republican leaders to pass legislation to avert a government shutdown next week. [...]
“We have been clear that we want to keep the government open,” the Maryland Democrat said. “Under the circumstances, it might [get] our support, but I don’t want to say that until I see what the Senate does.”
How many times will the Democrats have to save Republicans from themselves? Seriously. Worst. Caucus. Ever.