March 30, 2011 12:47 PM

House GOP: We don't need no stinkin' Senate

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Economy ,
Congress

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011.

(Credit: AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Updated 1:13 p.m. Eastern Time

Eric Cantor, a member of the House Republican leadership, suggested this morning that the House will pass a measure mandating that a House spending bill will become law if the Senate does not pass a spending bill of its own by next week.

How would that happen? Well, it won't. But Republicans are trying to put pressure on Democrats to pass their legislation to avoid a government shutdown, which will occur on April 8 if the parties cannot work out a deal.

Cantor said the House will take up the bill, which is called the Government Shutdown Prevention Act, on Friday. It will require that a House-passed spending bill, H.R.1, will become law in the absence of a Senate spending bill. H.R.1 includes $61 billion in spending cuts as well as controversial policy riders like the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

The Government Shutdown Prevention Act "reiterates again the deadline and that the Senate should act before the deadline," Cantor told reporters on Wednesday. "The bill then says if the Senate does not act, then H.R. 1 will be the law of the land. In addition to that, it says if all else fails and the Senate brings about a shutdown then members should not get their pay."

A summary of the Government Shutdown Prevention Act says "that if the Senate fails to pass a measure before April 6, 2011 providing for the appropriations of the departments and agencies of the Government for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, H.R. 1 (as passed by the House on February 19, 2011) becomes law."

It also says that "in the event of a government shutdown in excess of 24 hours or the limitation on the debt of the United States being reached, no salary payments will be disbursed to Members of Congress or the President for days on which that condition persists."

It's important to note that for any of this to happen, the Senate would have to pass the Government Shutdown Prevention Act -- and the odds of that are pretty much zero. (It would then have to overcome a presidential veto, another seeming impossibility.) Cantor's spokeswoman Laena Fallon said in a statement that "our hope that this bill will, at a minimum, spur the Senate to pass some bill funding the government for the rest of the year so that we can work quickly to resolve any differences."

House Speaker John Boehner told reporters on Wednesday that the measure indicated the GOP's seriousness about passing a budget.

"We're serious, we want to take care of this problem so we can get about the business of this nation and get American's back to work," he said.

"Pass the damn thing, alright!" Boehner added, referring to a long-term spending bill. "And send it over here and let's have real negotiations. Instead of sitting over there rooting for a government shutdown."


Add a Comment See all 42 Comments
by noloyalisti April 1, 2011 12:43 PM EDT
Cantor and the other radical extremists on the Republican side are the perfect pawns for the evil filthy rich of America. They are ignorant and gullible and uneducated about our Constitutions. The perfect big corporate puppets to destroy America for maximum profit for a few.
Reply to this comment
by hopetrumps March 31, 2011 3:41 PM EDT
Don't you just love those Republicans? just like toddlers insisting on getting their way---they, of course, couldn't be expected to understand any kind of heavy reading, such as the Bible or the Constitution. Someone needs to write a history of the modern-day Republican/Tea Party---it all started with the Royalist movement, who actually supported the British tyrant, George III against the true patriots who staged the real tea party in Boston Harbor (not New Hampshire, Ms. Bachmann!)---what idiots, imbeciles, and morons---President Woodrow Wilson said it long ago, "Republicans are good for one thing---fighting!" So, Obama and Dems, keep fighting them!
Reply to this comment
by jimbom121 March 31, 2011 11:07 AM EDT
What do they always say about adhering to the constitution?

Anyone wanted to defend this position, even though it goes against the constitution.
Reply to this comment
by robbyr2 March 31, 2011 9:52 AM EDT
Just as in Wisconsin, the Republican party has shown that it believes itself to be above the law. Constitutions, laws, judicial orders- none of it matters.

Eric Cantor will be removed as soon as the Publicans figure out he isn't a Christian.
Reply to this comment
by Riverjump March 31, 2011 8:23 AM EDT
America doesn't need no stinkin Gophers. Liars and thieves the lot of em. The are bankrupting America and selling it to foreign governments. SICK, sick, sick.
Reply to this comment
by renagle March 31, 2011 4:01 AM EDT
If the idiot and morally bankrupt Democrats would have passed a budget prior to the end of the last Congressional session, like they were supposed to, this entire process would be moot. Instead, like the moronic jackmunches they are, whine "Okay, what do the Republicans propose? You think you can fix the economy, go right ahead!" then do nothing. The left is arguing against giving taxpayers back their own money. Wake up. We were not put on this earth to feed the insatiable appetite of the federal government who is one and the same with the Democrat party. Neither can exist without the other.
Reply to this comment
by meboard March 31, 2011 8:33 AM EDT
If the idiot and morally bankrupt repubs would have passed a budget prior to the end of the last Congressional session, like they were supposed to, this entire process would be moot. But NOOOOOOOOO...! You HAVE TO HAVE 60 VOTES IN THE SENATE!!!!! Haaaaaaa... Its going to backfire on you neo-cons!
by jimbom121 March 31, 2011 11:09 AM EDT
So this would have happened next year instead of this year...what is the difference.
by mwade002 March 31, 2011 3:51 AM EDT
Recall all GOP
Reply to this comment
by AttyFAM March 30, 2011 10:24 PM EDT
by jessytell March 30, 2011 6:25 PM EDT
Is there really anyone in America that is not sick to death of the Democrats yet? I want to get my hands on what ever drugs you are taking.
--------------------------------

Are you, Jessytell, sick of the Constitution? Or did you not notice that Republicans give it lip service every time they trample it?
Reply to this comment
by levelheadedtoo March 30, 2011 7:55 PM EDT
Why don't you two get a room and finish your affair off line.
Reply to this comment
by jessytell March 30, 2011 6:25 PM EDT
Is there really anyone in America that is not sick to death of the Democrats yet? I want to get my hands on what ever drugs you are taking.
Reply to this comment
by tekjensen March 30, 2011 10:02 PM EDT
It's called reality.
by 7colorado March 30, 2011 10:39 PM EDT
That is exactly how I feel about the Republicans. The biggest myth in America is that Republicans are are fiscally conservative. Lets see, if we could go back and not invade Iraq and not pass the billionaires tax break I wonder how the budget would be looking today? Don't forget the military budget equal to the rest of the world combined, TARP which originated with Bush, the failed war on drugs, the failed no child left behind, absurd abstinence only, the gigantic prescription drug benefit, tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas, tax breaks for the incredibly wealthy oil companies and on and on ad nausea.
See all 5 Replies
See all 42 Comments
.
Latest CBS News Headlines Popular CBS News Stories
on Facebook Most Discussed Stories
on CBS News

Follow Political Hotsheet

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...