Van Hollen urges Dems to oppose rule approving GOP spending levels

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is calling on his Democratic colleagues to oppose a rule vote Wednesday that would establish spending levels for next year based on the Republican budgets.

“I urge you to oppose today’s rule for the appropriations bills that “deems” the Republican budget resolution conference report as having passed the House and the Senate. A vote for the Republican rule is a vote for the woefully inadequate funding levels set for 2016 in the Republican budget resolution,” Van Hollen wrote in a letter to his caucus.

Republicans had originally banked on adopting a House-Senate budget deal before voting on two spending bills this week for fiscal 2016, which begins Oct. 1. Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) has delayed the release of that agreement, but eventually signed it. 

In the meantime, House Republicans are voting on a rule that “deems” or establishes the Republican budget’s spending levels for next year. The GOP is proposing to stick to the $1.017 trillion overall cap, which limits the Pentagon to $523 billion and domestic programs to $493 billion in 2016.

“The rule for the first two appropriations bills ratifies this budget gimmickry by including a so-called “deemer” that locks in the budget resolution’s funding level for fiscal year 2016,” said Van Hollen, top Democrat on the House Budget Committee and a 2016 Senate candidate.

Van Hollen warned Democrats that the GOP’s proposed funding levels do not keep pace with inflation, and also would require cuts to certain spending bills. He also blasted Republicans for boosting defense spending through a Pentagon war fund that isn’t subject to sequestration budget ceilings.

The vote comes as Democrats and the White House ramp up their fight against Republicans on spending next year. Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan met with Democrats behind closed doors Wednesday morning to discuss their strategy.

On Tuesday, the White House issued veto threats for the first two spending bills because they lock in spending ceilings known as sequestration.

Updated at 11:54 a.m.