'Not a game': Dem senators double down on blocking House spending bill

WASHINGTON — Democrats huddled Thursday to discuss the fight they'll face if they refuse to support the Republican Party's continuing resolution to raise the debt ceiling.

Among items in the C.R. are provisions for more government job cuts.

Speaking to reporters, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said that the current House bill, which would fund the government for six months, is a "non-starter." She said that Democrats and Republicans "have a budget that is nearly done" — and that a clean, 30-day resolution would allow them to finalize a full budget package.

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"So, four more weeks. Short term. Keep the government open and let's get the work done," she added.

When asked about back-and-forth involving the resolution, Warren exclaimed, "It's not a game."

"The problem is it's hard to vote for a bill that says that the Republicans get to fire another 25,000 veterans. That the Republicans get to move as many old people in nursing homes out on the street as they want and Republicans get to shut down our education system. That's a hard bill to vote for," she told Raw Story.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is one of the lawmakers whose state is suffering under massive government cuts — many federal workers live and work in Virginia.

When reporters asked if any amendments could be passed to get him to support the current House bill, he said "no."

National Public Radio (NPR) reported Thursday that the House C.R. was crafted without any bipartisan discussion.

Warner speculated that Republican senators didn't seem to have any input in the House bill at all.

Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) said that his voters at home want to see him "push back."

He opposes the C.R. for a broad perspective, noting that it gives the executive branch the power to make budget cuts that the Constitution says are the responsibility of Congress.

"Pushing back and defending Congress' historic role, constitutionally mandated role, of controlling the purse," he told reporters. "We turn that over, when's it going to stop? If we just go ahead and sign the resolution ... I mean that'll be the last time they ask our opinion about anything," Hickenlooper said.

When asked about the messaging war, in which Republicans are seeking to blame Democrats for a shutdown, Hickenlooper said, "At a certain point, you've got to rely on the truth and what is really better for the country — and long term. Sometimes, that puts you in really difficult situations."