Schumer squares off against McConnell

New York Sen. Charles Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader-in-waiting, blasted Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on the floor Thursday, offering a preview of their future relationship.

McConnell’s relationship with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) has become steadily more contentious in recent years. Schumer signaled that it may not much when he takes over Reid’s job next year.

Schumer has a record of working with Republican colleagues on immigration and rules reform but Thursday’s speech indicates he is not afraid to push back when he thinks McConnell is wrong.

{mosads}He accused McConnell of putting Congress on the path toward a government shutdown.

It was a response to remarks the GOP leader made earlier in the day, criticizing Democrats for blocking spending bills that increase funding for defense programs but leave nondefense priorities under budget caps.  

“The majority leader makes it seem like, ‘Oh, he’s been negotiating [and] being fair.’ Every number in the Appropriations Committee had no consultation from Democrats,” Schumer said.

Schumer usually lets Reid or Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) respond to McConnell’s floor comments. By delivering a stern statement at noon, before the weekly Democratic policy committee meeting, Schumer injected himself more prominently into the debate.

Schumer will formally take over as Democratic leader after the 2016 elections.

He said Republicans have failed to consult with President Obama, who has threatened to veto the appropriations bills unless they treat defense and nondefense programs equally.

“I’ll ask the majority leader, who has he consulted on the other side of the aisle about his numbers?” Schumer said. “I think what the majority leader wants to do is play a game of chicken, wait until the end and then say, ‘Do it our way.’ ”

He warned that forcing Democrats to vote on spending bills without adjusting the top-line numbers with input from Democratic leaders could lead to a government shutdown.

“If the majority leader wants that, he should continue with this strategy. And any shutdown will be on his hands,” he said.

McConnell’s spokesman, Don Stewart, argued that Democrats had a hand in setting budget caps now under dispute.

“The minority leader-in-waiting has it wrong. The spending caps were the result of the BCA, which was negotiated with Democrats, passed by Democrats and signed into law by President Obama,” he said.

McConnell slammed Democrats Thursday morning for pledging to block the annual spending bills, including the traditionally popular defense appropriations measure, due on the floor this month.

“Democrat leaders don’t seem the least bit bothered by the dire national security implications of what they’re doing. They’ve packed the car for their filibuster vacation and they’re ready to hit the road — whatever the consequences for our country,” he said.

He accused Democrats of playing a “high-stakes game of shutdown roulette.”

Schumer said McConnell will be the one responsible for a government shutdown if he fails to convene a budget summit to negotiate top-line spending numbers.

“We’re saying let’s negotiate and let’s start those negotiations soon before it’s too late,” he said.

“We’re ready to sit down this afternoon. We’re ready to sit down at any moment that he gives us a signal,” he added.

A Democratic aide said Schumer’s call for a bipartisan summit shows he wants to find middle ground with McConnell.

This story was updated at 2:19 p.m.