Schumer warns Republicans not to roll dice on government shutdown as spending deal talks drag on

Sen. Chuck Schumer is warning Republicans not to risk a government shutdown by allowing hardliners to torpedo a massive compromise spending package, even after the two sides hammered out a “framework” for a deal.

The powerful Senate majority leader told GOP lawmakers Wednesday that they need to line up votes behind the spending plan that would fund the government until next fall and includes aid for Ukraine, money for the 9/11 health fund and other priorities for both parties.

“Those who risk shutdowns in order to make political points always lose in the end,” Schumer (D-N.Y.) said.

Republican and Democratic negotiators have reached an agreement on a “framework” that they say should allow them to complete work on the bill over the next week and avoid a government shutdown.

Congress faces a Friday deadline to pass a spending bill to prevent a partial shutdown.

The two chambers need to pass a weeklong extension by then to keep the government running through Dec. 23, a delay that would theoretically allow negotiators time to complete work on the full-year bill.

Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says the framework would allow Republicans to meet their priorities of increasing spending on defense without spending more on domestic programs.

Democrats agree in general although they warn that Republicans will have to accept plenty of Democratic priorities as part of the deal.

Schumer has some leverage in the talks because if a deal is not reached, Democrats could move ahead with a package and effectively dare Republicans to block it and cause a government shutdown.

Past shutdowns have proved politically damaging for the GOP because voters blamed them for not compromising.

Most of the haggling is taking place in the Senate because Democrats need the votes of at least 10 Republican senators to overcome a potential filibuster. Democrats control the House and could presumably pass any bill in that chamber.

House Republicans are balking at any deal brokered by the Democrats, saying the entire spending package should be handled by the new Congress, in which the GOP will control the House.

“This isn’t about actually saying: ‘Let’s have a process that works,’” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) “It’s the opposite. It’s using Christmas and the end of the year to jam this through.”

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the House GOP leader, boasted he is a “hell no” vote against any spending deal.