‘Irresponsible and catastrophic’: Democratic leader hammers Kevin McCarthy over omnibus opposition
Ryan King
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Outgoing House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) ripped into Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for working to scuttle the $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill being considered in Congress.
Hoyer warned that if the measure fails to clear Congress and avert a government shutdown by Friday at midnight, the consequences would be “catastrophic.” Seemingly unfazed by the alleged risks, McCarthy has vehemently opposed the bill and threatened to torpedo legislation from Senate Republicans who back it.
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“I don’t know what Mr. McCarthy is doing on the deadline. I choose to believe that he understands how irresponsible and catastrophic it will be. He’s in a difficult position right now,” Hoyer contended, according to a Fox News producer. “The ramifications of playing games with the deadline, and even if ultimately you approve it, the ramifications leading up to the uncertainty that is creating are damaging.”
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Under pressure from his conservative flank, McCarthy has called for a stop-gap measure to avert a government shutdown so that Republicans can negotiate a longer-term solution after they retake the House in January. Notably, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, did not participate in negotiations for the omnibus, unlike her Republican counterpart in the Senate.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted to advance the bipartisan bill along with almost two dozen Republican senators. Some GOP senators such as Kevin Cramer (R-ND) have publicly cast doubt on the ability of their colleagues in the House to get a funding bill through after the January takeover, given the chaotic nature of McCarthy’s quest for the speaker’s gavel.
“Hopefully, the Senate can move it back tonight. It will save the Senate, which has difficulty in getting things done because … their rules allow very small numbers up to individual members to slow things down,” Hoyer added.
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Democratic leaders in the House, including Hoyer and outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), have courted their fellow Democrats to coalesce behind the bill, underscoring increased domestic spending and a handful of liberal wins.
The bill had been negotiated by Senate appropriators Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL), as well as Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), who leads the House Appropriations Committee. Both Hoyer and Pelosi are set to remain in the new Congress despite stepping down from their leadership perches.