Posted on 03/07/2025 4:19:53 AM PST by Libloather
Senate Democrats have a fast-approaching dilemma: Vote for a spending bill unilaterally drafted by House Republicans or engage in the kind of shutdown brinkmanship they’ve long opposed.
It isn’t a decision they’ll be able to put off for much longer. House GOP leaders are poised early next week to send a bill to the floor that would largely hold current spending levels in place through the end of September. Democrats don’t like this approach, arguing it would only further empower President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to continue to act beyond their authority in clawing back congressionally approved dollars.
In the House, Democrats are vowing to hold back support, arguing that Republicans are responsible for finding the votes for a continuing resolution, or CR, after walking away from negotiations with the minority party.
“If Republicans decide to take that approach, as Speaker [Mike] Johnson indicated it’s his expectation, then Republicans are going it alone,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Thursday.
It’s not so simple in the Senate, where Democratic leaders are being more careful to avoid promising blanket opposition to a relatively “clean” stopgap bill ahead of the March 14 shutdown deadline. Privately, leaders have urged their members to stay silent and force Republicans to come up with a palatable plan.
Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said in a brief interview Thursday he didn’t sense there were enough Democratic senators yet willing to clear a seven-month stopgap — Republicans need at least eight, assuming more GOP lawmakers don’t join Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has pledged to vote no.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
I Hakeemed up a loogie once. Gross.
I hope the GOP has all the clips of the RATS reminding everyone why shutting down the govt and not passing the budget would be bad... bring receipts GOP... be prepared.
“Sucks to be Hakeem.”
Looking at his face during SOTU, he seemed to be resigning himself to certain defeat of the RATs. He did not look happy or confident. Maybe he’ll start reading the room, and paying attention to polls, and start compromising a bit. Probably not, but maybe.
The house can pass a CR if everyone sticks together. It will be the senate Dems who shutdown the government. Trump will beat them like a rented mule if they do.
I hope the Democrats pick shutdown.
Then Trump can really use emergency measures, cut spending, DOGE so much, as well as Tariff!! The Federal Government will quickly shrink, and then become more dependent on Tariffs for survival.
Another words, the Democrats are going to collapse and go with the Trump budget, because otherwise they give Trump everything he ever wanted.
Fight in the streets Hakeem!! Fight in the streets!
So, these idiots will protest the potential spending cuts by completely cutting funds.
I guess that makes sense to a party whose main goal is to oppose what’s good for America.
Dems hate this country.
I’m not clear why a shutdown is bad and why you have to pass crap to keep going with the senselessness. Trump wants to cut government. A shutdown means Trump gets to decide what is essential and what is not which quite literally seems like something he’s been saying he wants to do since taking office. Craft a perfect bill and makes cuts, let the Democrats block it and let Trump decide what is essential. It doesn’t appear to me that anyone has the stomach to save the country. Maybe not even Trump which disappoints me. I of course still back him and will give him time.
Yea but the bill isn’t right enough. I say pass a very right leaning bill and dare the Rats to block it. Stop being mediocre.
3rd choice: Sing!
“ Republicans need at least eight, assuming more GOP lawmakers don’t join Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has pledged to vote no.”
Is this not a reconciliation bill that only requires 50%? No filibuster?
EC
His uncle the racist professor at CitiCollege would be so proud.
“..Sucks to be Hakeem....”
For sure. I just dropped one of those in the comode this morning. It’s well on its way to the septic tank to join its fellow companions...
Fedzilla does not shut down.
Though, under Trump, we might get something pretty dang close.
That’s what Deep State is really worried about.
That the American public, like Mikey, will try it and like it.
An ex-pat Cuban colleague called it “sending a telegram to Castro”.
Option three. Resign, commit seppuku, and we’ll declare a national holiday.
Wonder how Democrat Senators from states that voted Trump think about their leadership’s idea to shut down the Government.
CRs can be filibustered
Shutting down the government because the republicans wouldn’t work with the rats was the battle cry during Biden. Now with trump its ok
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.