McConnell hopes Dem budget isn't 'attempt to raise taxes'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that he hopes that Senate Democrats won’t try to use their budget resolution to raise taxes.

“It’s my hope that the Democrats’ sudden interest in passing a budget isn’t just another attempt to raise taxes. As I’ve said repeatedly, we’re done with revenue,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Thursday morning. “Who would be in the firing line this time? At what cost? 

“Look: struggling families shouldn’t have to pick up the tab again for Washington’s inability to live within its means.”

On Wednesday, the House passed a measure, H.R. 325, that would suspend the debt ceiling through mid-May. The bill stipulates that if the Senate fails to pass a budget by April 15, lawmakers wouldn’t receive their paychecks. Senate Democrats have said they will pass the House debt-ceiling bill.

McConnell pointed out that it has been nearly four years since Senate Democrats passed a budget.

“It’s nice to see that, after years of playing budget peak-a-boo, Senate Democrats are finally ready to take up their most basic of responsibilities,” McConnell said. “What’s unfortunate is that it’s required so much pressure to get them to do so.”

McConnell said that just because the House bill gives lawmakers three more months to negotiate on a deal to reduce the deficit, doesn’t mean the work shouldn’t begin today.

“If the bill the House passed yesterday is signed into law, Congress will have another three months to take the debt challenge on seriously,” McConnell said. “But that does not mean we should wait a minute longer to start working on it. There’s no reason, for instance, that the Finance Committee shouldn’t begin preparing the critical spending reforms that will be necessary to get my vote, and the vote of many of my colleagues, for any long-term increase.

“Let’s get the process moving. No more brinkmanship. No more last-minute deals.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) suggested Wednesday that a joint budget resolution could include $600 billion in new tax revenue.

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