Pelosi, Schumer: ‘Height of irresponsibility and political cynicism’ if GOP rejects funding deal

Congressional Democratic leadership sent a warning shot to Republicans on Monday saying it would be the “height of irresponsibility and political cynicism” if they reject a plan to end the 10-day government shutdown.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) urged Republicans to back their plan to fully reopen the government or risk being “complicit” in the partial shutdown.

“If Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans refuse to support the first bill, then they are complicit with President Trump in continuing the Trump shutdown and in holding the health and safety of the American people and workers’ paychecks hostage over the wall,” Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement.{mosads}

They added that if Senate Republicans vote against the dual approach offered by Democrats, after approving a seven-week stopgap bill by voice vote, it would “be the height of irresponsibility and political cynicism.”

Democrats unveiled their spending package on Monday evening and are expected to force votes on the two bills on Thursday, when they gain control of the House. One bill would fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8. The second bill would merge funding through Sept. 30, the end of the 2019 fiscal year, for the remaining six appropriations bills.

But the package ran into immediate opposition from Senate Republicans and House conservatives.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) isn’t expected to bring up a bill for a vote unless it has President Trump’s endorsement. Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.), a close ally of Trump’s, told The Hill that the Democratic plan was a non-starter.

“Several offers have been made both directly and indirectly to Democrats. All of the offers have been met with reluctance and disapproval. Democrats will give zero money for new border barrier construction and Republicans will not accept this position,” Meadows told The Hill.

The back-and-forth comes as Washington is locked in a protracted fight over Trump’s border wall. 

Trump has demanded $5 billion for the wall, though lawmakers and administration officials have floated that they would accept half of that — roughly $2.5 billion. Democrats, however, are remaining firm at their cap of $1.3 billion for fencing. 

Meanwhile, Trump has lashed out at Democrats through a string of tweets on social media. He said in a tweet on Monday that they were using a “ridiculous sound bite” to say that a wall “doesn’t work.”

“It does, and properly built, almost 100%! They say it’s old technology – but so is the wheel. They now say it is immoral- but it is far more immoral for people to be dying!,” he said.

In another tweet, Trump implored Democrats to return to Washington, saying that he was “in the Oval Office” and Democrats should “come back from vacation now.”