Schumer defends decision to vote to avert shutdown amid anger from House Democrats and base
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Friday defended his decision to back a Republican-passed spending bill and vote to avert a shutdown, amid anger from House Democrats and the party base.
“I believe it is the best way to minimize the harm that the Trump administration will do to the American people,” he argued during his morning remarks on the Senate floor. “Clearly, this is a Hobson’s choice. The CR (continuing resolution) is a bad bill, but as bad as the CR is, I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.”
Schumer maintained that a shutdown would be a “distraction” that would help the Trump administration.
“They can stay in a shutdown as long as they want; there is no off ramp unless they decide to take that off ramp, and they won’t, because this is their best tool for achieving their goal: slash government, slash spending, and use that money for tax breaks for billionaires,” added Schumer. “So, a shutdown would be the best distraction Donald Trump could ask for distraction from his awful agenda.”
He insisted that even the Senate Democrats who vote against the funding bill are not in favor of a shutdown, saying that they have “wrestled” with how to approach Friday night’s deadline. He also argued that voting to avert a shutdown does not mean that Democrats are finished fighting Trump.
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