Republicans control both chambers of Congress, but do not have the votes to invoke cloture in the Senate, meaning Democrats can stop any legislation there they do not like. “Everyone is thinking about what might be their next move”, said Sen.
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Negotiations intensified Thursday on Capitol Hill on a $1.1 trillion governmentwide spending bill and a sprawling tax package touching all sectors of the economy.
House Democrats have responded strongly this week with efforts to highlight Congress’ inaction on gun violence after a spate of recent mass shootings, including the one in San Bernardino, California, last week that left 14 people dead. Gottheimer raised more than $1 million so far this year, to Garrett’s $565,000.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, House Democrats’ campaign arm, is launching short radio ads hitting 10 vulnerable House Republicans for voting against allowing debate on the bill.
Controversial issues, which drive a wedge between Republicans and President Barack Obama’s Democrats, continued to plague the negotiations.
Perry said he feels the focus should be on the link between mental illness and gun violence, to try to prevent more mass shootings in the future. “It’s hard to argue against the CDC being able to conduct scientific research on ways to save lives”, said Thompson spokesman Austin Vevurka.
“I’m not going to put a deadline on it”, he said.
If lawmakers fail to approve a so-called omnibus spending bill, the federal government would be forced to partially shut its doors and send home hundreds of thousands of civil servants deemed nonessential, a scenario that played out in October 2013 when budget talks between Democrats and Republicans failed.
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Republicans enacted Dickey Amendment in 1997 under pressure from NRA lobbyists who claim government agencies use such studies to advance gun control. Wheeler said research on gun violence tends to favor gun control advocates and often ignores the rights of non-violent gun owners or the benefits that come with gun ownership, such as for protection from crime. “I think the sincerity is absolutely there”. It remains to be seen whether this latest tragedy will prompt lawmakers to allow the CDC to fund research. “The American people need leadership and a plan from President Obama instead of relying on a flawed no-fly list that has no credibility because it has featured over 70 DHS employees, Members of Congress, and even U.S. Senators”. “That said, would people change their policies?”
