In their defense: Republicans are right — Democrats are trying to spend too much. The party’s $3.5 trillion spending plan should be pared down, as centrists like Joe Manchin are working to do. The responsible way to oppose spending is to negotiate the number down or, failing that, vote against it. But refusing to pay the country’s bills — especially when Republicans have been the ones ringing them up for the past four years — would be the height of fiscal irresponsibility.

Reasonable minds may differ on the appropriate price tag of the Democrats’ spending bill, how to pay for it and whether to support it. But the fact is that those questions have absolutely no bearing on the approaching debt limit. These are America’s past bills coming due, and they will need to be paid in full — whether the Democrats’ spending package ultimately passes.

If Republicans cannot bring themselves to honor America’s debts, they should at least allow Democrats to stand up and be counted, rather than using the filibuster to block a vote on the debt ceiling and a temporary budget extension. If they do block that vote, scheduled for later this week, the result could be a shutdown of the federal government combined with the potential for a serious shock to financial markets and the economy — which, during a pandemic, would be a dangerously irresponsible and economically reckless act.