House Democrats are vowing to play hardball in the partisan battle over government spending, driving to extract steep concessions from Republicans who will need bipartisan buy-in to prevent a shutdown next month.

Democratic leaders are warning that they won’t support a funding package that includes steep cuts to their favored programs. Others would go a step further, saying they’ll oppose any bill that doesn’t answer the flood of executive actions from President Trump and the government-gutting efforts of Elon Musk.

The early maneuvering sets up a game of high-stakes chicken as both sides race to keep the government running — and avoid the blame for a shutdown — after March 14.

"I'm not a cheap date,” Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said. “They want to run and tell everybody that they have this huge mandate — that they can do whatever the hell they want to do. Well, if that's the case then they should put their mandate-pants on and do whatever the hell they want to do.

“But if you want us to be helpful, then you have to engage us. And we're not going to just be there to bail you out.”

The threats have teeth, since House Republicans are brawling over spending levels and haven’t ironed out their differences, while Senate Republicans will need bipartisan support to avoid a filibuster in the upper chamber. Those dynamics mean that Democratic votes will be needed to get a federal spending bill through Congress and on to Trump’s desk — leverage Democrats are hoping to use........

© The Hill