In a discussion with Ted Cruz on CNN's State of Union, Candy Crowley refused to acknowledge that the House has sent eight bills to the Senate to fund vital services. When Ted Cruz gave this information to Crowley, she simply responded that Harry Reid refused to let the Senate vote on the eight bills because he would say he was being blackmailed.
Prior to the discussion, Crowley elaborated (advocated?) for a plan where the Senate and House would fund a "clean" continuing resolution for six weeks and have a cooling off period.
CRUZ: I agree with President Obama. There are eight bills that the House has passed that are piled up on Harry Reid's desk. Harry Reid will not let the Senate vote. So for example, Jack Lew, Candy, said we need to fund our veterans and disability payments. The house passed a bill to fund our veterans. Every Senate Republican believes we should fund our veterans regardless of what happens in the shutdown. Our veterans shouldn't pay the price. Right now Harry Reid and the Senate Democrats are refusing to have a vote and blocking it. The only reason the VA is not adequately funded right now is because Harry Reid and the Democrats are blocking it.
CROWLEY: How about a cooling off period? There is an idea being floated, CNN is reporting a cooling off period, that you pass a clean spending bill for six weeks and on it you also increase the debt ceiling for six weeks. In that six weeks, you negotiate on how to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year and negotiate the debt ceiling.
CRUZ: Candy, that would -
CROWLEY: That would accomplish what you want, which is the President at the table?
CRUZ: Look what you just asked...you said how about the agreement be give the Democrats 100% of what they want with no changes whatsoever. They're not talking now but if you give them everything you want, then they'll talk. No, they won't. We saw this week President Obama after months of refusing to talk to Congress finally invited Congressional leaders over, sat down and said hi, I invited you here to say I will not negotiate. In their view, it is not reasonable. it is Republicans in Congress who are passing bills to reopen the parks, the memorials, to fund cancer research, to fund our veterans. And it's the Democrats who are refusing to have a vote. Why won't Harry Reid let the Senate vote on the eight bills the house has passed to fund vital parts of the government?
CROWLEY: He would say because he thinks he's being blackmailed. We'll be back. we have to take a quick break.
