Still, Democrats may come under pressure to avoid a government shutdown over DACA, which does not fully expire until March. One House Appropriations Committee Democratic source said there could be some wiggle room in the party’s stance on DACA that could help avert a shutdown. The source speculated that while many Democrats are dead-set against a full-year spending package without an immigration deal, there may be fewer who would object on a CR into January.
“There are a lot of questions that would determine how Democrats vote,” the source said. "DACA is one, but there’s also the question of the supplemental. There’s the question of a [spending] caps deal.”
At the same time, Ryan and other GOP leaders have for weeks resisted the idea of a stopgap bill through January.
"This is something the speaker feels strong about," leadership ally Rep. Tom Cole told POLITICO on Monday night. "A CR and sequester for the military is not a way to begin the New Year.”
But that stance is shifting as Dec. 8 — when the government runs out of money — approaches and the GOP remains laser-focused on its tax bill.
Democratic leaders’ refusal to show up at the White House for spending talks Tuesday, after Trump insulted them on Twitter, has also solidified a GOP desire to consider a more hard-line strategy.
"I’m very disappointed that Democrats abandoned the field with a shutdown looming. I think that’s irresponsible,” said Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Ky.), a long-time spending panel member who often works with Democrats on funding matters. "If the Democrats won't even talk, they’re the ones who are going to cause a shutdown."
Asked about the new strategy, Ryan’s office downplayed the notion that they’ve settled on a new GOP-only approach, arguing that everything is still in flux.
“No plan has been decided on,” said Ryan spokeswoman AshLee Strong. “Assuming Democrats are interested in talking with Congressional leadership and the White House, talks will continue.”
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