Rep. Tom Cole on Government Shutdown: Democrats Attempting to Blackmail Trump and Republicans

Government Funding Deadline and Negotiations

• 🎯 House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole discusses the upcoming Tuesday funding deadline and the ongoing efforts to pass a full spending plan.
• 💡 Cole expresses hope, stating that the only request is for time to negotiate, as Democrats have previously voted for the proposed appropriations.
• ⚠️ The primary obstacle is the Democratic leadership's insistence on including unrelated items like Medicaid and Obamacare subsidies, which Cole argues are not appropriation matters.

Accusations of Blackmail and Hypocrisy

• 🚩 Cole accuses Democratic leadership of attempting to blackmail the administration and Republicans by demanding unrelated concessions to avoid a government shutdown.
• ⚖️ He points out the hypocrisy, as Democrats have previously criticized Republicans for government shutdowns, yet are now employing similar tactics.
• 💰 The inclusion of Obamacare subsidies, which don't expire until December 31st, is seen as an inappropriate linkage to the current funding deadline.

Concerns About House Republican Unity

• 😟 Cole is very concerned that if the Senate passes a deal including these unrelated items, House Republicans may refuse to pass it, jeopardizing any agreement.
• 🤝 He emphasizes the need for all parties, including the President, to be in the room for negotiations to ensure a path forward on appropriations.

The Futility of Government Shutdowns

• 🚫 Cole states he has never been for a shutdown, citing previous instances by both parties that failed to achieve their objectives.
• 📉 Shutdowns put millions of lives at risk, impacting individuals with mortgages and car payments, and are an ineffective tool for negotiation.

Recisions and Legal Challenges

• ❓ Cole addresses concerns that rescissions (budget cuts) make negotiations difficult, noting that the first rescission package was voted on by Congress.
• 🏛️ He acknowledges the legal debate surrounding the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) authority on rescissions, suggesting it may need to be decided by the courts.
• 💰 While acknowledging that $5 billion in rescissions sounds like a lot, Cole notes it's a small fraction of the overall discretionary budget and often involves foreign aid.