Senate Democrats reject Republican funding bill, raising shutdown threat
Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (Photo: Getty Images)
Senate Democrats have announced their intention to reject the Republican-proposed government funding bill, arguing that it was crafted without their input, reports NBC News.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer emphasized that Republicans lack the necessary votes to overcome a cloture motion for this bill.
“Government funding should result from bipartisan negotiations, but Republicans chose a unilateral path, completely excluding Democrats from the process,” Schumer stated, “As a result, they don’t have the votes to overcome cloture on the House bill.”
Democrats propose a short-term funding bill extending until April 11 to allow additional time for negotiations and achieving a bipartisan agreement. However, Republicans insist on extending funding through the end of September, which has drawn criticism from Democrats due to increased military spending and cuts to social programs.
Shutdown threat and contrast with previous disagreements
If an agreement isn’t reached by midnight Friday, the government faces a shutdown. President Donald Trump supports the Republican proposal, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune noted that the House does not plan to revise the bill’s text.
“We have a specific funding proposal from the House before us, and it is the only available option,” Thune remarked.
Some Democrats fear that rejecting the bill could lead to a shutdown, adversely affecting citizens. “Both alternatives are bad,” admitted Senator Raphael Warnock. “If the bill is passed, it will harm many people. If a shutdown occurs, it will also harm many people.”
Notably, the House of Representatives recently censured Democratic Congressman Al Green for attempting to disrupt President Trump’s speech. In that instance, some Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the censure, highlighting the possibility of bipartisan agreement on matters of protocol and respect for institutional procedures.
As the budget deadline approaches, the likelihood of a government shutdown increases. Both parties must find a compromise solution to avoid negative consequences for the country and its citizens.
