Schumer To GOP: Don't Play Games With Debt Ceiling Vote

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) warned top Republicans on Sunday to table their attempts to shut down the government and prevent the country’s debt limit from being increased.

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he was keeping open the possibility of forcing a government lockout. McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) have been lobbying President Obama to drastically cut spending levels this year in exchange for Republican support on raising the debt ceiling and keeping the government running beyond March 4, when the current temporary funding resolution expires.

Schumer, appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” urged GOP leaders to think long and hard about the consequences of stalling those two important votes.

“Too many Republicans seem like they are seeking a shutdown of the government when the current funding measure expires on March 4th. This was a mistake when Newt Gingrich did it in 1995, and it would be an even bigger mistake now. It could have disastrous consequences like halting Social Security payments, and jeopardizing access to health care for our veterans and seniors on Medicare. We need to work together to address the deficit, but we would urge Republicans not to risk the shutting down of the government. That is playing with fire.”