U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner on Sunday blamed tea-party Republicans in the House of Representatives for yet another budget impasse against the backdrop of a looming government shutdown.
This time — with the government due to run out of money when the fiscal year ends on Friday — the standoff hinges on disaster-relief aid, with the Republican-controlled House insisting that nearly $4 billion in additional assistance be offset by spending cuts.
The Democratic-controlled Senate balked at that proposal Friday, rejecting a stopgap spending bill sent over from the House that would have provided the aid offset by cuts to an Energy Department loan program for energy-efficient cars and another clean-energy program.
The bill passed the House on a second attempt, after deeper cuts were added to appease conservatives.
Pointing to the "tea-party crowd," Warner said in an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union" that this was the same "my-way-or-the-highway" approach that had derailed a long-term debt-reduction deal this year and has caused other standoffs.
"One point about who to blame or not to blame on this current, hopefully non-shutdown is that there is a group — I do believe it is mostly centered in the House in terms of some of these tea-party Republicans — who say on every issue, 'We're going to make this a make-or-break,'" Warner said. "We saw it on the FAA when they shut down the Federal Aviation Administration. We're seeing it now on this debate about FEMA."
Democrats, due to vote today on a counter-offer that would provide new money for the Federal Emergency Management Agency without offsets, claim it's unfair and unprecedented to require spending cuts be linked to emergency aid in the wake of multiple natural disasters such as Hurricane Irene, the recent earthquake centered in Mineral and tornadoes this year.
"The Senate is saying … why should we in effect rebuild schools in Iraq on the credit card, but expect that rebuilding schools in Joplin, Missouri, at this moment in time have to be paid for in a way that has never been in any of the previous disaster assistance that we've put out before?" Warner said.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has made it clear that Republicans will attempt to block the Democrats' bill with a filibuster.
The $175 million remaining in the emergency-aid fund for disaster victims could be depleted as soon as Tuesday. Adding to the drama is the fact that House members left for a week's recess Friday, making it unclear how the issue could be resolved this week.
With approval ratings for Congress already at an all-time low, Warner called the latest threat of a shutdown embarrassing.
"Can we, once again, inflict on the country and the American people the spectacle of a near-government shutdown? I sure as heck hope not," he said.
On Friday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-7th, who was among the first to insist that further disaster relief be offset, accused Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., of playing politics with the issue.
"There are people who are suffering in a big way right now, and they need to know that FEMA and the disaster relief monies will be there for them," Cantor said, adding that the House was offering the aid "in a responsible manner." He added: "Harry Reid is arguing with himself. This is why people don't like Washington."
The governors of four East Coast states — two Democrats and two Republicans — issued a statement Friday asking Congress to "put aside politics on disaster issues."
Gov. Bob McDonnell did not sign because of the level of federal aid that Virginia qualified for compared to the other states, but a spokesman said he agrees with the sentiments. "There should be no delay in ensuring that citizens receive the assistance they need in such a difficult time. He joins the other governors in this position," said McDonnell spokesman Tucker Martin. "The federal government must ensure that assistance is provided without delay."






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