GOP cuts trigger Democratic warnings on government shutdowns
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer listens behind Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is warning Republicans they'll risk a government shutdown all alone if they ram through cuts to PBS and foreign aid. Now he just needs them to take that threat seriously.
Why it matters: A shutdown fight in this political climate could put Democratic senators under the most intense pressure of their careers. But the threat of a shutdown is Schumer's (D-N.Y.) only real leverage.
- Schumer outraged his base earlier this year by voting to keep the government open. He's long opposed government shutdowns.
- But the Democratic base's message is even louder now: Fight, fight, fight.
The big picture: To some Senate Dems, the GOP's unilateral clawbacks would kill the bipartisan trust they need to work together on spending bills.
- The GOP needs at least seven Democratic votes to extend government funding ahead of the Sept. 30 deadline.
Zoom in: The current GOP rescissions package has a deadline of next Friday.
- "That is a road Senate Republicans would be wise not to go down," Schumer said Tuesday on the Senate floor.
- Schumer doesn't view next week's expected vote as a red line. But the real concern among Dems is the GOP's desire to pursue even more rescission packages. President Trump has signaled such interest.
Republicans are listening: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Wednesday that Schumer "implicitly threatened to shut down the government."
The bottom line: Battleground Democrats told Axios they understood the deep frustration with Trump and GOP leaders, but they aren't united on the idea of using a possible shutdown as leverage.
- "It's basically saying that the Congress has no power whatsoever and our appropriations process is worthless," Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) said of the GOP cuts. He was one of 10 Democrats to vote to fund the government earlier this year.
- "It's incredibly frustrating to see this president want to renege on a bill that he signed into law," Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) told Axios after saying shutdowns should be avoided.
- "Play stupid games, win stupid prizes," Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) told Axios.
