Democrats reveal shutdown and debt patch that's doomed in Senate

Democrats reveal shutdown and debt patch that’s doomed in Senate

Sep 21, 2021

House Democratic leaders on Tuesday unveiled the fine print of a funding package that will bring them no closer to stopping a government shutdown in 10 days or a debt default in the coming weeks.

Republicans have said they plan to reject the funding package, which includes $28.6 billion in disaster aid — including for storm-battered red states — as well as $6.3 billion in funding for Afghan refugees and an extension of cash to keep the government open through Dec. 3. Democrats, eager for a messaging win, are tying that bundle to a measure that would hit pause on an approaching debt cliff through the 2022 midterms.

While the House is expected to pass the bill on Tuesday, Senate Republicans have insisted that they will oppose the legislation in the upper chamber, where all but four GOP lawmakers vowed weeks ago to oppose any action on the debt limit.

"The Democrats have the House, the Senate, the White House, and they have the capacity to raise the debt ceiling,” Rep. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) said this week. He reiterated the GOP stance: Democrats should handle the debt limit through the filibuster-proof reconciliation process they used to pass their $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package earlier this year and are deploying to enact up to $3.5 trillion of President Joe Biden’s social spending plans.

Democrats’ proposed debt limit suspension would last through Dec. 16, 2022. Of the $6.3 billion in aid for Afghan allies and partners, the Pentagon would receive more than $2 billion.

House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) said Tuesday that it is “critical” for Congress to “swiftly” pass the package to support disaster survivors and Afghan refugees, as well as save the nation from a government shutdown on Oct. 1 and the economic fallout from a debt default in the coming weeks.

The short-term funding bill calls for an accounting of U.S. equipment in Afghanistan, including what was left behind after the U.S. withdrew troops and effectively ceded the country to Taliban control. House Democrats also want to provide an extra $1 billion for the Pentagon to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system.

The stopgap doesn’t provide a short-term extension for certain transportation programs, which are set to expire along with government funding on Sept. 30. An extension likely won’t be necessary if House Democratic leaders stick to their pledge to pass the Senate’s bipartisan infrastructure bill by Sept. 27, although timing is now in flux as progressives push for action on Biden’s massive social spending bill.

Connor O’Brien and Tanya Snyder contributed to this report.

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