Sens Reid and Durbin: Don't tie Sen Cruz's Internet fight to Continuing Resolution

The Senate's top two Democrats are sending early warning signs that a push by Sen Ted Cruz (R-TX) to link a fight over control of the Internet to a short-term government funding bill is a non-starter. Asked if Democratic Sens are opposed to Sen Cruz's push to include a rider to block the Obama Administration from relinquishing the oversight role the United States has had over the Internet, Sen Dick Durbin (D-IL) said "of course." "If he's going to be allowed to dream up an issue and produce it and say we're going to stop the government, which he has quite a good reputation of doing... where in the heck are the Senate Republicans?" Sen Durbin added.

Sen Cruz's push comes as lawmakers are facing a looming Oct 1 deadline to get a deal on government funding to avoid a shutdown. Under Senate rules, any member of the chamber could force the Senate to go through lengthy procedural hurdles before it can take a final vote on a short-term spending bill. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) also pointed to Sen Cruz's Internet fight as one of myriad policy issues that still needs to be worked out as part of the spending discussions, arguing it's an "attempt to slow down the [continuing resolution]." "Unfortunately this is what we've come to expect from my friend, the junior senator from Texas. When the Senate has a deadline, he tries to obstruct government funding bills," he added. "So we have our work cut out for us." Sen Cruz is expected to hold a hearing Sept 14 about the transition. If Congress fails to act by the end of Sept, the transfer will take place, giving Sen Cruz leverage to get the issue included in the CR.