Democrats join Republicans to prevent government shutdown


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procedural hurdles

While the CR passed the House with a simple majority on Tuesday, the Senate required a 60-vote threshold, known as cloture, to overcome procedural hurdles. With only 53 seats, Republicans needed Democratic support to avert a shutdown.

“Democrats must not buy in to this false choice. We must fight back for a better way.”

Although Democrats ultimately aided Republicans, many expressed fury towards Schumer and other senators who sided with him to pass a Trump-backed funding bill.

Initially, Democrats, including Schumer, signaled their intent to vote unanimously against the CR, effectively shutting down the government. Some Democrats proposed an alternative 30-day funding extension to allow for further negotiations. However, as the minority party in both chambers, this option was unrealistic.

Schumer swiftly pivoted from his initial stance, urging colleagues to pass the CR, arguing that a shutdown would be worse than an unfavorable funding package.

“It’s not really a decision; it’s a Hobson’s choice,” Schumer said in a floor speech Thursday. “Either proceed with the bill before us, or risk Donald Trump rowing America into the chaos of a shutdown. This, in my view, is no choice at all. While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse.”

Schumer’s reversal outraged his Democratic colleagues, sparking speculation of potential primary challengers like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

“I think it is a huge slap in the face, and I think that there’s a wide sense of betrayal,” Ocasio-Cortez told reporters Thursday.

The discontent extended beyond the rank and file, with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) disavowing Schumer’s approach, without explicitly naming him.

“House Democrats will not be complicit,” Jeffries said. “We remain strongly opposed to the partisan spending bill under consideration in the Senate.”

“Donald Trump and Elon Musk have offered the Congress a false choice between a government shutdown or a blank check that makes a devastating assault on the well-being of working families across America,” Pelosi said in a statement Friday. “Let’s be clear: Neither is a good option for the American people. But this false choice that some are buying instead of fighting is unacceptable.”

“Democrats must not buy in to this false choice,” Pelosi added. “We must fight back for a better way.”

 

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