(Roll Call) Just hours from a government shutdown that everyone once insisted would never happen, House Democrats emerged from an emergency caucus meeting Thursday night much the same way they walked in: Without a unified strategy.
Democrats are split on the “cromnibus” spending plan agreed upon by Republican House and Democratic Senate negotiators. The White House and Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland want the cromnibus to pass. But Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California is against it, and she has significant backing from huge numbers in her caucus. Those who might be inclined to vote “yes” are keeping quiet, dodging reporters or saying they are still undecided.
Pelosi delivered a stunning floor speech earlier Thursday where she said she was “enormously disappointed” that the White House had called for Democrats to support the bill. She said members were being “blackmailed” by Republicans into supporting the legislation.
