BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, the minority leader is so committed to his campaign rhetoric, calling the Senate a political graveyard, that he is killing the House-passed appropriations package that funds our national defense and pays our troops.
Leader McConnell has twice moved to take up the House bill that funds the Pentagon, as well as the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, Energy, Education, and others, but the majority leader has been constantly blocked by the Democrats.
The minority leader claims to be shocked and outraged that the Senate isn't taking up partisan messaging bills from the House when it is very normal for both Houses not to take up every bill passed by the other Chamber. That doesn't apply to appropriations, however, because one thing is very certain: We have to fund the government, and those bills absolutely have to come up and be passed by both Houses.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT