Senate Democrats unmoved by threat of shutdown; many refuse to follow Schumer's lead

By Thérèse Boudreaux
The Center Square

As U.S. senators are poised to vote on advancing Republicans’ six-month Continuing Resolution to keep the government open, Democrats are indirectly bashing the few members in their ranks who are considering casting a "yes" vote.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., had said he would risk a government shutdown unless the chamber votes on a Democratic amendment that would shorten the stopgap budget to one month. 

But Schumer reversed course Thursday night, arguing that a government shutdown would cause more damage than passing the partisan CR.

That decision has garnered backlash from lawmakers in his party, particularly from Democrats in the House, who almost universally voted no on the bill.

Besides Schumer, only U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has publicly said he will vote to advance the CR, meaning Republicans need six more votes from Democrats for the bill to pass the cloture vote. Republicans only need a majority for the final vote.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., former House speaker, told Democratic Senators in a Friday statement that Republicans were offering a “false choice” between a vote on cloture or a government shutdown, and lobbed a thinly veiled rebuke of Schumer. 

“[T]his false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable,” Pelosi said. “We must fight back for a better way.”

Senators who have worked with Republicans on other matters, including Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., and Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., have said they will vote no on cloture. 

Making matters worse for Schumer’s reputation in his party, President Donald Trump praised him on social media for “doing the right thing” through a “really good and smart move.”

Republicans’ 99-page bill would keep most government spending on autopilot through the end of the existing fiscal year on Sept. 30.

The CR makes some funding adjustments from fiscal year 2024, including slashing $13 billion in non-defense spending, boosting defense spending by $6 billion, increasing WIC and CSFP nutritional programs spending by $500 million and $36 million, respectively.

It also authorizes billions of dollars for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation efforts, veterans' health care, and air traffic control safety priorities. Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending would remain unchanged.

If the CR does not pass by midnight Friday, parts of the government will shut down.