The House has passed a one-week spending resolution that would keep the government running for seven more days — cutting $12 billion in the process — but would also fund the Defense Department through September 30. Republicans are calling it the “troop funding” bill. The final vote for 247-181, largely along party lines. Fifteen Democrats supported the bill, while six Republicans voted against it. House Democratic leaders tried, unsuccessfully, to introduce a “clean” CR would also have extended funding for defense operations through September 30, but would not have cut any spending elsewhere.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) has already declared the bill a “non-starter” in the Senate, and President Obama has threatened to veto the measure, calling it “a distraction.” A Republican senator tells NRO that Obama’s veto threat was likely an indication that Reid may not have the Democratic votes to defeat the bill in the Senate.
House Republicans held a press conference following the vote express “outrage” at the way Democrats have responded. “The President’s most solemn obligation as commander-in-chief is to provide for the fundamental security of this nation,” said Rep. Duncan Hunter (R., Calif.), a Marine Corps veteran of three combat tours. “”The president is putting politics ahead of our troops…[he] should be, frankly, embarrassed.”
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.) called on the Senate to immediately take up the bill, arguing that Democratic actions were increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown. He also rejected the idea of a “clean” CR because “the status quo [on spending] was unacceptable.”
“The president keeps saying he wants to have an adult conversation,” Cantor said. “If we’re going to be adults here, we’ve got to set all politics aside and let’s go about making sure our troops are paid and that our government keeps functioning.”
UPDATE: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) responds: “If the President wants to shut down the government over this bipartisan troop funding bill, that is his prerogative. But I would urge him to reconsider his veto threat and join us in preventing a shutdown instead. This is the only bill that would do that. He should sign it.”
UPDATE II:
Republicans voting against: Reps. Amash, Bachmann, Barton (Texas), King, Mulvaney and Paul.
Democrats voting in favor: Reps. Altmire, Barrow, Bishop (Ga.), Boren, Boswell, Cooper, Donnelly (Ind.), Holden, Kissell, Matheson, McIntyre, Peterson, Ross (Ark.), Schrader, Shuler.