*2014 Republican Budget

Despite claims from Republican leaders that Democrats have refused to negotiate on the budget, a look at the not-so-distant past shows that Democrats have a long history of attempting to negotiate with unwilling partners on a budget that would compromise between the House and Senate versions.  From the National Journal:

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

This week, House Republicans voted to cut nearly $40 billion from our nation’s nutrition assistance program (SNAP), which would deny food assistance to nearly 4 million Americans, including children, seniors and veterans.  For four decades, Congress has traditionally passed a bipartisan farm bill that includes this nutrition assistance.

“Madam Speaker, today we are considering a measure to fund government only if the Democratic Senate and the Democratic President will agree to dismantle the health care reform law that will help millions of Americans access quality, affordable care. That isn’t going to happen, and it is a blatant act of hostage-taking.

In response to last week’s continuing resolution that was pulled from the legislative agenda after the Republican leadership failed to gain enough votes from their most conservative faction, GOP leaders decided to move further to the right in pursuit of an even more reckless and partisan bill. 

“I am deeply disappointed that Republicans continue to risk a government shutdown by appealing to the most extreme members of their party through a continuing resolution that has no chance of passing the Senate or being signed by the President. 

“I'm sure that it will renew the discussions about access to weapons that can be used to kill a lot of people quickly. …  what we have seen in so many of these instances are that the perpetrators have given previous indication of instability, even inclinations to use weapons, and to talk about violence. So there was no doubt this was somebody who had a record of instability and certainly should have been, I think, subject to closer scrutiny, particularly in access to a facility such as the Navy Yard, or any facility that has large numbers of people in it, that has security concerns in the United States.”

Even as they put forward legislation to continue the irrational sequester and defund the Affordable Care Act, House Republicans still can’t stop fighting amongst themselves.  Here is the latest round of the GOP chaos:

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

I’m extremely disappointed that House Republicans failed to address a number of the critical issues facing Congress before they adjourned for the August district work period.