McCarthy: Senate Dems’ spending plan ‘disturbing’

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Wednesday slammed Senate Democrats’ threat to block GOP spending bills for next year unless they get their way.

“I am disturbed though by what I’m reading in the papers and hearing on the Senate side from the Democrats,” McCarthy told reporters following a closed-door GOP conference meeting.

McCarthy said the Democrats’ strategy will create an obstacle throughout the summer, which is normally primetime for appropriations bills to hit the floor.

“They want to stop the movement of one, funding of our troops and protecting them in the process, our ability to fund the government, and try to filibuster throughout the summer,” he said.

{mosads}McCarthy said it’s even more “disturbing” to hear Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) say they’re coordinating a plan to block the spending bills with the White House, which so far has repeatedly issued veto threats for each funding measure that has reached the floor.

“I think we all have a responsibility to get the work done,” McCarthy added.

His comments come a day after Senate Democrats forcefully floated the idea of holding a budget summit this month that could be used to lift sequestration spending ceilings for fiscal 2016, which begins Oct. 1.

Senate Democrats say they will refuse to advance any appropriations bills until sequestration funding levels are eased. 

Asked if now is the time to hold such a summit, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told reporters Tuesday “No, of course not.”

The White House, however, has said it’s up to congressional Republicans now to come up with a plan because the administration has already done its part by pitching a budget blueprint to Congress in February that raises spending caps by a total of $74 billion for both the Pentagon and domestic programs.

Congress has until Oct. 1. to pass government funding.

So far, the House has passed five out of a dozen appropriations bills. The latest one was approved by a razor-thin margin Tuesday night. In a 216-210 vote, the House passed a bill funding transportation and housing programs.

The House begins consideration on Wednesday of a bill funding the Pentagon next year, with a final vote expected by the end of the week.

—Scott Wong contributed.