Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) discussed the possibility of a continuing resolution (CR) being passed as Congress returns from its August recess to avoid a government shutdown in September during a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria, calling a CR "devastating."
As Rep. Diaz-Balart explained, a continuing resolution means "that we cannot do any real changes. We cannot do a new start in defense, and we are stuck with, in essence, the last Biden appropriations bill."
Still, he said that the House Appropriations Committee is putting its work in and is ready to negotiate with the Senate.
"The question is going to be what the Democrats are willing to do because, whether we like it or not, ultimately, passing in the House, negotiating with the Senate, and that requires 60 votes," Rep. Diaz-Balart continued, adding, "So the Democrats have a voice, whether we like it or not, and are they willing, and will they be willing to negotiate in good faith? And negotiating in good faith also means negotiating with the White House."
Substitute host Cheryl Casone noted that while the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) extended the 2017 Trump tax cuts and made some cuts to government spending, hardline Republicans are seeking further downsizing, asking the Florida Congressman if he believed such spending reductions were possible.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, if you want spending cuts, you have to get the appropriations bills passed and negotiated," Diaz-Balart answered, saying the subcommittee he chairs in House Appropriations has drafted a bill with 22% less spending than the previous year's CR.
However, he reiterated that it is up to the Democrats to pass new appropriations, saying, "Are the Democrats going to be willing to negotiate, or is the Trump [Derangement] Syndrome so much in their head that they just cannot sit down and negotiate with Republicans?"
Diaz-Balart's colleague, Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-FL), expressed similar concerns recently, suggesting that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Democrats are potentially willing to shut down the government.
"I think [Schumer] wants to fight with the President. It seems like all they [Democrats] want to do is fight, whether it be a reapportionment or anything else, even stopping crime. They are now for crime. It is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen in my lifetime in politics," observed Rep. Haridopolos.
