Pelosi tells Dems to keep ‘powder dry’ for Senate spending bill

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told House Democrats to stay unified as Washington’s latest budget crisis unfolds.

{mosads}In a letter sent to her colleagues on Friday, Pelosi said her party’s caucus “stood firmly” against the House Republicans’ continuing resolution. The bill passed Friday on a party-line vote — only two Democrats voted for it, Reps. Jim Matheson (Utah) and Mike McIntyre (N.C.) — to keep the government up and running until mid-December but defund ObamaCare.

Democrats have rejected any move to end the Affordable Care Act and said Republicans are risking a government shutdown on Oct. 1. The Senate is expected to strip the anti-ObamaCare provision from their version of the spending bill.

The Democratic leader asked that lawmakers keep “their powder dry” as they wait for the Senate spending bill.

“The strength that we demonstrated as House Democrats in voting against the Tea Party continuing resolution gives us leverage as we go forward. That is why I’m requesting that members keep their powder dry with respect to our next steps as we await a continuing resolution from the Senate,” Pelosi said.

Staying unified will also help Democrats when the debt ceiling needs to be raised by mid-October, according to Pelosi. Republicans have also threatened to include a repeal of ObamaCare with legislation to lift the debt ceiling.

“Our continued unity will only strengthen our leverage in this fight and the upcoming debt ceiling debate as well. Thank you for your leadership and please contact me should you wish to discuss this critical matter further,” Pelosi said.