WASHINGTON -- Reports emerged on Monday afternoon that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was floating the idea of a one-week continuing resolution to keep the government funded and prolong budget negotiations.
The proposal fits the mold for McConnell, who has often entered high-stakes standoffs at the 11th hour to help broker some kind of an agreement. But this time, it may be too tough a sell.
For starters, it's unclear whether House Republicans would agree to the measure, since it wouldn't touch Obamacare. And early signs from party leadership indicated that they would explore alternate routes.
"We have other plans," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rogers (R-Wash.), of a one-week CR.
Beyond Republicans' response is the fact that Senate Democrats don't seem to have all that much interest in prolonging an issue that -- for them at least -- has only one logical outcome.
"It is a non-starter," emailed one top Senate Democratic aide. "THE CURRENT BILL IS ONLY 6 WEEKS TO BEGIN WITH!! A week wouldn’t change anything, it would just give Republicans more time to send over junk bills and have rah-rah votes. There are no serious negotiations so there is nothing to buy time for."
Another Senate Democratic aide added, "There is a simple solution staring the GOP right in the face: Pass the clean Senate bill. Even the House Rs know it would pass. We don’t see a lot of point in doing the one-week extension, we’re only looking for six weeks in the current CR, and it’s not clear that the House could pass it, and it seems likely Cruz would block it, if both sides are going to stick to where they have been. There isn’t a lot of interest in creating another week to extend negotiations that don't exist."
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