House Democrats said they will oppose a Republican-led stopgap funding measure that would extend federal spending levels until Dec. 4, and a House vote on the measure is scheduled for Tuesday evening.
Democrats left their weekly caucus meeting Tuesday morning and blasted Republicans for seeking to circumvent the bipartisan appropriations process.
"It’s an abdication of responsibility to the country at a critical time," Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, a senior Democratic appropriator, said in an interview.
"If you want our support, you should want to negotiate with us in good faith," Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York did not announce plans for Democratic leadership to whip against the continuing resolution, but he expressed strong opposition at a leadership meeting Monday, according to four people granted anonymity to discuss the private conversation.
Multiple lawmakers left the caucus under the impression that Democratic leaders were firmly in the "no" camp, a departure from the precedent where Democrats traditionally supported "clean" stopgap funding bills.
The No. 3 House Democrat, Rep. Pete Aguilar of California, said at a news conference following the meeting, "I’ll be voting 'no.' And if any members ask, I would encourage them to do the same."
Aguilar also underscored at his news conference that this was not "a serious proposal," and he said Senate Republicans were unlikely to take up the House measure.
Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland, another Democratic appropriator, said in an interview after the caucus meeting, "It's kind of a Trojan horse scenario here."
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, outlined her opposition in the Tuesday morning members' meeting, is seeking explicit language that prohibits funding for Customs and Border Protection and is circulating a fact sheet laying out her issues with the legislation.