GOP Sen. Rick Scott says ‘it’s up to the Democrats’ whether a government shutdown can be avoided

Republican senators told DailyMail.com on Wednesday that they are frustrated with the pace of negotiations aimed at keeping the government open, with just over a week to go before the December 16 deadline to pass a spending bill. and avoid a shutdown.

Last week it looked as though Democrats and Republicans would work together on a year-long ‘omnibus’ spending bill to keep agencies open and federal workers paid.

But conservatives have called on Republican leaders to reverse course and pass a short-term resolution that would delay discussions of a longer funding bill until early next year, when Republicans control the House of Representatives.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell was confident of a 12-month bipartisan bill last week but backtracked to say discussions were at a “stalemate” after his caucus’ weekly political luncheon on Tuesday.

If they don’t reach an agreement, the federal government will run out of funds next Friday.

It’s up to the Democrats. The democrats can make that decision, they are the ones who [have control of Congress]’Right now,’ Florida Senator Rick Scott told DailyMail.com at the US Capitol on Wednesday.

“I don’t want a government shutdown, I don’t think any of us do, but we shouldn’t pass a Pelosi-Schumer spending bill.”

Meanwhile, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville accused Democrats of playing “politics” with the federal funding legislation.

Republicans have argued that passing a omnibus bill before the end of the year will solidify the left’s spending priorities in a year in which voters chose to wrest control of half of Congress from Democrats.

‘There is an understandable desire on the part of incoming members, and especially those who elected them, that they are not going to have spending decisions made by the outgoing Congress that was just voted out of office and out of control. of the majority,’ Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee said during a news conference Wednesday.

Some Republican senators did not openly oppose a 12-month funding bill, but expressed frustration with the lack of a draft proposal.

‘I don’t think we have closure. It just depends on what kind of [continuing resolution] we’re going to have – a short term or a long term, and we have to… get the top line of the bill. We hadn’t seen it yet,” Tuberville told DailyMail.com.

He complained that Congress’s year-end spending priorities “should have been done” before the penultimate week of its session.

It is used for politics. That’s what the American people hate,’ Tuberville said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his fellow Democrats are pushing for an ‘omnibus’ spending deal to keep the government funded for 12 months.

“I’m not used to this, like running on the seat of our pants, and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana declined to say whether he would prefer a short-term bill or a one-year resolution, telling DailyMail.com that no proposals have been submitted so far.

‘I mean, it’s- there are so many variables. It’s hard to answer the question without knowing the variables,’ said the Louisiana Republican.

Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri said he was “optimistic” that some sort of agreement could be reached to avoid a shutdown, but noted that time was ticking.

“We are getting close to the point where we may not be able to do this,” Blunt told DailyMail.com.

“I’m still optimistic, but every day matters.”

Senator Tommy Tuberville complained Wednesday that he hadn’t seen any kind of draft funding plan, despite a looming deadline: “I’m not used to this, like it’s running on the seat of our pants, and That’s what we’ve been doing.”

Congressional leaders met with President Joe Biden at the White House last week, where they began discussing the possibility of passing a bipartisan general spending bill that will last all of next year.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell said at the time there was “widespread agreement” on the need for a 12-month funding bill, but backtracked on Tuesday amid mounting pressure from the Senate. right wing of his group.

“We’re at a pretty significant impasse,” he began. ‘Regarding public spending, time is running out. we have not yet been able to agree on a higher line.’

He said it was “becoming increasingly clear” that a short-term funding bill “until early next year” was more viable than a one-year package.

“We’re running out of time and that may be the only option we can accept,” McConnell said.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy suggested on Fox News Monday night that McConnell needed to hold off on spending negotiations until Republicans control the House next year.