Senate Democrats Face Setbacks in Recent Vote
On Tuesday, three Senate Democrats were defeated as Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY) backed a bill proposed by Republicans, aiming to fund the government until November 21. This revealed some division among Senate Democrats.
Senator Katherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), who is part of the Senate Democratic Leadership Team, along with independent senators John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Angus King (I-Maine), supported the GOP funding proposal.
The measure, which needed 60 votes to advance, ultimately fell short with a 55-45 vote.
Cortez Masto expressed her reluctance to contribute to the hardships faced by her constituents, who are already grappling with rising expenses and a sluggish economy, by risking a government shutdown.
“This administration doesn’t care about Nevadans, but I do. So I can’t support a costly shutdown that harms Nevada families and further empowers this reckless administration,” she stated.
She pointed out that a government shutdown would “force tens of thousands of Nevada military personnel, union members, law enforcement, and military nurses to work without pay,” potentially disrupting hundreds of contractors at the Nevada National Security Site and beyond.
Cortez Masto and King had previously voted against the House-passed bill during the initial vote in the Senate on September 19.
Fetterman, the only Democrat to support the GOP funding proposal earlier this month, has consistently advocated to avert government shutdowns, advising his fellow Democrats to reconsider their position on fundraising matters.
On Tuesday, he cautioned that a shutdown would shift control back to former President Trump and allow White House Budget Director Russell to push forward with Project 2025.
“The president has various levers he can pull, which we should be mindful of, so why would we want to pull that lever?” he remarked.
“I think that would align well with Project 2025,” he added.
Senate Republicans viewed the support from the three Democrats as evidence of Schumer’s weakened political position leading into the potential shutdown.
“We have Democrats who are clearly dissatisfied with their current situation,” noted Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) at a press briefing after the vote.
“We need five more,” Thune continued, indicating that Democrats would need to approve funding measures to pass the StopGap proposal. “A total of eight Democratic votes is necessary.”
Currently, Republicans hold 53 Senate seats, but they require eight Democratic votes to advance the funding bill, especially since Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) opposes maintaining funding levels established during the Biden administration.
A continuous resolution necessitates 60 votes to pass.
Thune mentioned plans for additional votes on funding measures originating from the House in the coming days, aimed at securing more Democratic support.
“I think there are individuals who do not want a government shutdown, but their leadership is putting them in a tough position… this should make them quite uncomfortable,” he remarked.
