Rubio Joins in GOP Efforts to Create Another Republican Government Shutdown

August 27, 2014
Blog Post
Drew Hammill, spokesman for Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, said: "As we near the 1-year anniversary of the Republican Government Shutdown of 2013 that cost our nation's economy $24 billion –Republican leaders, once again, prefer to threaten another government shutdown over advancing essential legislation.  It's time to end the kowtowing to the Tea Party extremist elements, get serious about legislating for the American people, and take these ridiculous threats off the table."

After Senator Mitch McConnell last week threatened that he would shut down the government over any progress, the baton has now been passed to Republican Senator Marco Rubio this week.  From The Huffington Post:

Marco Rubio Hints At A Government Shutdown Fight Over Immigration

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) contends that unilateral action by President Barack Obama on immigration, which is expected this fall, will doom future chances for reform by poisoning the well in Congress. The one-time champion for comprehensive immigration reform wants Senate Republicans to combat the likely executive action through the budget process when Congress returns in September.

"There will have to be some sort of a budget vote or a continuing resolution vote, so I assume there will be some sort of a vote on this," Rubio told Breitbart in an interview published Tuesday. "I'm interested to see what kinds of ideas my colleagues have about using funding mechanisms to address this issue."

After Congress returns on Sept. 8, lawmakers will have just 10 working days to come to consensus on a continuing resolution to fund the government or risk a shutdown.

Aside from the politics of another potential shutdown fight, it's unclear what "funding mechanisms" Senate Republicans would attach to a continuing resolution that could limit an executive action on immigration. A spokesman for Rubio declined to provide any specifics when reached for comment on Tuesday.

Republicans just do not listen.  Take a look at some of the most recent GOP government shutdown threats:

  • In June 2014, Rep. Mike Simpson and Rep. Ken Calvertthreatened to shut down the governmentover advancing common-sense EPA policies.

  • In August 2014, Sen. Mitch McConnell threatened "to shut down the government to force policy changes from President Barack Obama."