The Hill News

A group of Senate conservatives threatened Thursday to block Senate action on most items unrelated to spending and the national debt.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) led seven other GOP senators in pledging to block legislation unrelated to the debt.

"While there are certainly many issues that warrant the Senate’s consideration, we feel that the Senate must not debate and consider bills at this time that do not affirmatively cut spending, directly address structural budget reforms, reduce government’s role in the economy so businesses can create jobs, or directly address this current financial crisis," the group wrote in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

"We, therefore, are notifying you of our intention to object to the consideration of any legislation that fails to directly address this crisis in a meaningful way," they added. "Our objections would be withheld if the Senate agrees to dedicate significant floor time! to debate this issue well in advance of the federal government reaching our statutorily mandated debt limit."

The conservative bloc could conceivably halt the movement of legislation if they're joined by their Republican colleagues. While the Senate's been working actively on spending issues, it has voted at the same time on a series of other unrelated items in order to keep the chamber's business going.