Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Six
“[F]or the sake of the American people, I hope at least a few more Democrats will join us to pass this clean, nonpartisan CR and let the Senate get back to work.”
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:
Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):
“Mr. President, we’re now in day six of the Democrats’ government shutdown.
“Day six.
“And I’m wondering just what exactly Democrats think they’re gaining from all of this.
“I guess they’re getting points from the far-left interest groups they’ve been coordinating their shutdown strategy with.
“But I highly doubt that they’re earning a lot of points with everyday, hardworking Americans.
“Like the voters that they lost in the last election.
“Mr. President, a Reuters headline from Thursday noted, and I quote, ‘US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans.’
“Let me just read that again, Mr. President:
“‘US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans’
“The article noted that while the Trump Agriculture Department is doing its best to continue administering the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – more commonly known as WIC – the program is ‘critically low’ on funds.
“And it won’t get new funds until Democrats agree to reopen the government.
“Mr. President, Democrats own this.
“They own any lapse in funding for critical food aid programs, just as they own every other negative effect of this shutdown.
“Because let’s remember, Mr. President, the only reason the government is shut down is because Democrats refused to accept a clean, nonpartisan funding extension.
“A clean, nonpartisan funding extension.
“We didn’t ask Democrats to swallow any new Republican policies.
“We didn’t ask them to swallow any partisan riders.
“We simply asked them to agree to a clean, nonpartisan bill.
“The same kind of bill, Mr. President, I might add, that they voted for 13 times – 13 times – during the Biden administration.
“But Democrats said no.
“And I should note, Mr. President, that you don’t have to take my word for it on the facts of the bill.
“Republicans aren’t the only ones pointing out that this is a clean CR.
“Here’s what the president of the Teamsters union had to say the other day, and I quote:
“‘A shutdown will hurt working people. Period. … Senators should … pass the House-passed clean, short term funding bill.’
“‘Senators should … pass the House-passed clean, short term funding bill.’
“Again, that from the president of the Teamsters union.
“Or, you know, you could take the word of a mainstream journalist, who recently noted, and I quote: ‘In a vacuum, this CR would get almost every [Democratic] vote.
“‘It just would.
“‘This is a clean CR that has no partisan riders, extends a bunch of programs that are [Democratic] priorities.
“‘… it’s clean.’
“‘It’s clean,’ Mr. President.
“So to summarize, Democrats have shut down the government because they refuse to accept a clean, nonpartisan bill.
“And why are they refusing to accept it?
“After all, as I mentioned, they supported similar bills 13 times during the Biden administration.
“The reason that they refuse to accept it is that Democrats still cannot get over the fact that the American people elected President Trump.
“And when their far-left base demanded a showdown with the president, Democrats fell in line.
“And now it’s the American people who are suffering the consequences.
“I quote again: ‘US government shutdown threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans’
“‘… threatens food-aid program for low-income Americans’
“Mr. President, three Democrats have rejected their party’s shutdown politics and voted with Republicans to reopen the government.
“All Democrats will get another chance to vote to reopen the government later today.
“And for the sake of the American people, I hope at least a few more Democrats will join us to pass this clean, nonpartisan CR and let the Senate get back to work.”
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