Dems push plan to keep gov’t open, but it may die in Senate

House Democrats plowed ahead Tuesday with legislation to avoid a government shutdown on Sept. 30 and provide billions in federal disaster aid, effectively daring Republicans to try to block the must-pass measure.

The package would provide financial breathing room for the U.S. Treasury by keeping the government funded to Dec. 3 and extend borrowing authority through the end of 2022. It also includes $28.6 billion in disaster relief for the aftermath of Hurricane Ida and other extreme weather events, and $6.3 billion to support Afghanistan evacuees in the fallout from the end of the 20-year war.

“It is critical that Congress swiftly pass this legislation,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, in a statement. The House approved the bill 220211 on Tuesday night.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) accused Republicans of stiffing the American people if they vote against it.

“For Republicans to suddenly throw their hands in the air and abscond from their responsibility to pay debt that they proudly supported is nothing short of a dineand-dash of historic proportions,” Schumer (photo above) said.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was not about to help pay off past debts when Biden was about to pile on more with a “reckless” tax and spending package. He said since Democrats control the White House and Congress, it’s their problem to find the votes.

Though the bill was approved by the House, which Democrats control, it is expected to languish in the 50-50 Senate where Democrats will be hard-pressed to find 10 Republicans to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.

All the spending disputes appear to be coming to head before the end of the month, putting President Biden in a do-or-die political moment with his top domestic priorities on the line.

It originally also included $1 billion in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome anti-missile program but those monies were yanked after some progressive Democrats objected.

Even though the aid is expected to be added later to a defense bill, the move irked some Democratic moderates like Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), adding yet another snag to the head-spinning procedural drama.

The bill would also lift the debt ceiling until after next year’s midterm elections. Republicans say they won’t support that even though plenty of the debt was accumulated under former President Donald Trump.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that “in our view, this should not be a controversial vote.” Psaki said Congress has raised the debt ceiling numerous times on a bipartisan basis, including three times under Trump.

Democrats are betting some Republicans will cave in the end to avoid being blamed for stalling disaster aid or not raising the debt ceiling.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) whose state was battered by the hurricane said he will likely vote for the bill.

“My people desperately need the help,” he said.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, Democrats are frantically negotiating among themselves over Biden’s huge $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” package and a bipartisan infrastructure plan worth about another $1 trillion.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has implored Democrats to move swiftly toward bridging big differences between progressives and moderates ahead of looming deadlines to pass those packages.

If they can’t thread a legislative needle, Biden will see his biggest legislative goals go down in flames.