Maroc - RAWSTORY.COM - Raw Story - 18/Sep 01:59

GOP scoffs as it hurls Dem threat back at Schumer

Republicans seemed unbothered on Wednesday that Democrats have threatened to force a government shutdown, believing the GOP holds all the cards heading into the fall.Democrats have said they oppose the current Republican stopgap funding plan, arguing that it does not include key provisions such as extending Obamacare subsidies, reversing steep Medicaid cuts, and providing inadequate negotiation over health and social program funding. But Republicans who spoke to Raw Story didn't appear concerned. Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC), chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, told Raw Story he feels confident the GOP has more leverage."How are you feeling about the shutdown politics? Do you guys feel like you have a stronger hand?" Raw Story asked."Oh, yeah. We're not even playing games," Hudson replied. "We're just doing it clean. You really gonna shut it down?"Hudson said it'll take a few weeks, and a funding fight could ensue in November, as Democrats will have a "leverage point" once the continuing resolution ends."I can't speak for what [House Speaker Mike Johnson] is going to do. I don't know," he acknowledged.Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told Raw Story Democrats are taking a "big risk" with trying to angle for a shutdown."I think it comes down to who shows the best faith in terms of negotiations," he said. He warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) might be making a mistake by "waiting for an invitation" from Republicans to negotiate."If I'm the minority leader, I'm coming up with what I think is a good-faith offer. And put it out there," he said. Tillis said Democrats' base should "own" a shutdown if Schumer is pressured to follow through on threats to shutter the government."I think this is the first time in modern political history that a shutdown — full title to the shutdown — could be conveyed to the Democrats for letting their base shut us down," he added. Meanwhile, Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) gave a more blunt assessment of the possibility of a shutdown."That's not a debate. I'm not worried about that at all," he said.Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) told Raw Story his constituents are less concerned about a shutdown, and more vocal about whether Congressional Democrats will let President Donald Trump "keep overreaching and not driving down costs.""None of us should be talking about that term," he said.Ryan said he and his colleagues have a choice before them."Do we want more of Trump's budget? More overreach on a bunch of bad errors? Or do we want to get back to affordability and lowering costs?" he said."My constituents don't care about the means so much as they care about the ends," Ryan added. He said Americans are with Democrats in that they want lower costs — not military troops deployed against U.S. citizens. "Public will matters," he said.