In Washington, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York stated on Wednesday that Democrats would not support the government funding bill passed by Republicans in the House. This puts the possibility of averting a shutdown before the Friday night deadline in question. The House narrowly approved a continuing resolution on Tuesday to fund the government until the end of September.
Schumer criticized Republicans for taking a partisan approach in crafting the bill without any input from Democrats. He called for a one-month funding bill to allow more time for bipartisan negotiations. Schumer emphasized the need for a clean CR by April 11 to keep the government running and urged Republican colleagues to work together to prevent a shutdown.
Following a meeting with Democratic senators, there was division on whether to support the House’s six-month measure. Some senators were concerned about the consequences of a shutdown, even though they disagreed with the House bill. Without a new funding law signed by President Trump, the government faces a shutdown by the end of Friday. Republicans would need 60 votes in the Senate to defeat a filibuster, but Democrats are insisting on amendments to the bill.
Despite their reservations about the House bill, some Democrats are considering supporting it to avoid a shutdown. Senator Raphael Warnock from Georgia highlighted the challenges of both outcomes and criticized the bill for its impact on ordinary people. Concerns were raised about the bill’s implications for congressional authority over appropriations and Elon Musk’s influence.
Senate Democrats are advocating for a one-month bill to allow for further budget negotiations. Differences exist within the party regarding military spending increases, cuts to domestic programs, and controls on executive power. Senator Tina Smith from Minnesota stressed the importance of voting on a short-term bill to prevent a government shutdown.
While some Democrats are leaning towards supporting the stopgap bill, others are pushing for amendments and changes to the current proposal. The situation remains fluid as lawmakers navigate the complexities of funding the government and avoiding a shutdown.
There is little enthusiasm for the one-month funding measure, and it seems likely that a continuing resolution will be in place through the fiscal year ending on September 30. The White House is pushing the party to resolve the issue quickly so it can focus on a Republican-only bill worth trillions of dollars to advance Trump’s legislative priorities on the border, taxes, and other policy areas. House Republicans narrowly passed a six-month government funding measure with a vote of 217-213, but at least eight Democrats will be needed in the Senate to break a filibuster, with Sen. Rand Paul opposing the bill.
Some Democratic senators and aides are concerned that supporting the bill would set a troubling precedent by allowing House Republicans to pass government funding measures without Democratic input. Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed willingness to discuss an amendment vote on a short-term funding bill with Senate Democrats.
The House is currently on recess until March 24, and time is running out to pass a bill before the midnight deadline on Friday. Senate Republicans believe it’s too late to make changes to the bill and fear a shutdown if the bill is not passed in time.
Republicans are counting on Democrats not wanting a shutdown, despite their objections to the House bill. On the other hand, Democrats feel excluded from the process and are adamant that Republicans will be held accountable for any potential shutdown.
House Democrats at a retreat in Leesburg, Virginia, have urged their Senate counterparts to reject the bill, with only Rep. Jared Golden of Maine voting in favor. They argue that the bill is not a clean resolution and contains across-the-board cuts that could lead to negative consequences.
