Senate Leaders at Odds Over Government Shutdown

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer exchanged barbs regarding the potential government shutdown. Both leaders made it clear they believe their respective parties would be blamed if the government closes.

“I’m sure we’re all asking questions. Are we not going to shut down, Schumer? It looks like a lot can happen based on his statements,” Thune remarked to reporters after the weekly Republican policy lunch.

Thune stated that Republican leaders intend to move forward with a clean stopgap funding measure that would last for seven weeks, pushing it to the House and then onto the Senate floor.

“We’re going to give them every opportunity to support the clean continuing resolution that Senator Schumer and the Democrats have claimed to back,” he continued.

He also noted that during President Joe Biden’s administration, 96% of Senate Democrats had voted for 13 short-term continuing resolutions when Schumer served as the Senate Majority Leader.

“Even if Schumer insists there are Democrats who think a government shutdown, like last year’s, is a bad idea, I hope they come through,” Thune said hopefully, adding that he expects Democrats to deliver the votes needed to keep the government open.

Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson introduced a 91-page bill on Tuesday aimed at funding the federal government until November 21. Thune mentioned that this timing would allow more negotiations on the final spending bill.

The proposed funding measures would afford lawmakers the time to finish writing legislation to extend enhanced health insurance premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, set to expire by year-end.

In contrast, Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement later Tuesday, criticizing House Republicans. “We’re just 14 days away from the deadline,” Schumer said. “Democrats want to avoid a shutdown. We’ve urged Republican leaders to engage with us to begin negotiations,” he continued, accusing them of politicizing the situation.

Schumer highlighted Trump’s recent statements during an interview, remarking that Trump indicated feeling he didn’t need Democratic support for any legislative actions. “That suggests he prefers a shutdown,” Schumer added, refuting Trump’s claims that Republican votes alone would suffice.

Finally, Schumer called on Thune and Johnson to join Democrats at the negotiating table, proposing discussions about cuts to domestic non-defense spending or significant reductions to Medicaid.

“By refusing to engage with Democrats, Republicans are signaling they’re okay with allowing Trump to drive the country into chaos, and they seem willing to shut down the government,” Schumer asserted.