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CRomnibus gridlock as Congress goes on surprise recess with government shutdown looming

"If we don't finish today, we'll be here 'till Christmas," warns Boehner.

By Matt Bradwell
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). UPI/Kevin Dietsch
1 of 2 | Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). UPI/Kevin Dietsch | License Photo

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The United States House of Representatives has been in an emergency recess since 2 p.m. as dissent on both sides of the aisle grows for the "CRomnibus" spending bill.

"If we don't finish today, we'll be here 'till Christmas," warned Speaker of the House John Boehner Thursday morning.

That could be exactly what Boehner is facing down if the tone in Washington does not change quickly, as many House Republicans are incensed that the proposed spending does not include language to defund President Obama's executive action on immigration. GOP leadership previously rejected inclusion of such language assuming it would not pass the Democrat-controlled Senate and would almost-certainly be vetoed if it did.

The bill has made unusual political bedfellows of Boehner and the president, both of whom are urging resistant caucuses to accept the proposed compromise and avoid a government shutdown.

Newly emboldened by a divided Republican Party, Pelosi and house Democrats are doubling-down on efforts to remove roll backs to the Dodd-Frank financial reforms put in place to prevent another economic meltdown.

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"It is clear from this recess on the floor that the Republicans don't have enough votes to pass the CRomnibus," Pelosi wrote in an open letter to her caucus.

"This increases our leverage to get two offensive provisions of the bill removed: the bank bailout and big money for campaigns provision. We're being asked to vote for a moral hazard. Why is this in an appropriations bill? Because it was the price to pay to get an appropriations bill ... This is a ransom, this is blackmail. You don't get a bill unless Wall Street gets its taxpayer coverage. It's really so sad."

If a bill is not passed by midnight, the United States federal government will shut down for the second time in less than 15 months.

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