"House Democratic leaders asked their members yesterday to pledge in writing to vote 'no' on spending bills that contain controversial policy riders, warning that by bringing such legislation to the floor Republicans would be courting a government shutdown."
"House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) collected signatures on the floor during votes yesterday for a letter to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) stating that Democrats would not accept the most contentious riders included on a variety of appropriations bills, including the one to fund the Interior Department and U.S. EPA.
'While not all policy riders are objectionable, many of those included this year are not only controversial but blatantly partisan,' said the letter. Among those are dozens of riders attached to the Interior and Environment spending bill that would 'roll back important clean air and clean water protections,' it said.
'As appropriators continue working to meet funding thresholds in the Budget Control Act, it is important that Republicans not risk a government shutdown by playing politics with appropriations bills,' the letter added."
Jean Chemnick reports for E&E Daily October 27, 2011.
