Democrats prepare to fold on government shutdown
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Senate Democrats are prepared to vote Friday to keep the government open, with not much to show for it.
Why it matters: The outcome will spark the fury of many Democrats and the grassroots of the party, who have lobbied this week for the lawmakers to block the short-term funding bill.
- But it tracks with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) longstanding advice that it's bad politics to shut down the government.
- Schumer privately told his colleagues Thursday he plans to help break the filibuster on the GOP-led government funding bill, sources told Axios. The New York Times was first to report on his comments.
Zoom in: "While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse," Schumer said Thursday on the Senate floor.
- "A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, the state and the country," Schumer said.
- "The shutdown is not a political game. Shutdown means real pain for American families."
Between the lines: Most of Schumer's colleagues will vote against him. But Senate Democrats only need to provide eight votes to help keep the government open.
- Democrats are expected to get amendment votes on the bill, which will give the party members some cover in voting for the package.
- The GOP expects the Democratic votes it needs will come from senators up for tough 2026 races as well as those who are retiring, as Axios reported last week.
- Schumer and Senate GOP leader John Thune (R-S.D.) will need a time agreement to speed up the vote.
The other side: The Senate Democrats' House colleagues aren't buying it.
- "Those games won't fool anyone. It won't trick voters, it won't trick House members. People will not forget it," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote Thursday on X about a 30-day CR amendment vote.
- "Senate Republicans should back down from screwing over their own constituents," said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas). "Democrats were elected to fight for working people, not put up a fake fight."
- House Democrats were almost unanimous in opposition on Tuesday. Only Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) voted for the bill.
The bottom line: Schumer ensured he'll be the main Democratic villain of this week's drama. But he'll spare his party the pain of a shutdown and the political consequences no one can predict.
