Senate Democrats balk at funding extension, raising the risk of a shutdown

[Brent Meeker]

I'm concerned that shutting down the government is just creating the kind of crisis Trump would like to justify his saving the nation by disbanding Congress and ruling by edict.  Perhaps though it could be driven the other way if enough Repuglicans can be made to see that as a bridge too far.  So far though they seem inclined to roll belly up, and the Dem's aren't providing any leadership at the top.  All the courage is in the junior members.

Brent

On 3/12/2025 1:20 PM, The New York Times wrote:

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March 12, 2025, 4:18 p.m. ET

BREAKING NEWS

Eric Lee/The New York Times

Senate Democrats Balk at Funding Extension, Raising the Risk of a Shutdown

Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said that Democrats would refuse to back a stopgap bill to fund the government through Sept. 30, significantly raising the chances of a government shutdown at the end of the week.

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[Alan Grayson]

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 10:09:15 PM UTC-6 Brent Meeker wrote:

I'm concerned that shutting down the government is just creating the kind of crisis Trump would like to justify his saving the nation by disbanding Congress and ruling by edict.  Perhaps though it could be driven the other way if enough Repuglicans can be made to see that as a bridge too far.  So far though they seem inclined to roll belly up, and the Dem's aren't providing any leadership at the top.  All the courage is in the junior members.

Brent

What are the main reasons the democrats oppose the CR? I skimmed the article but it doesn't say. AG 

[Alan Grayson]

On Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 7:57:32 AM UTC-6 Alan Grayson wrote:

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 10:09:15 PM UTC-6 Brent Meeker wrote:

I'm concerned that shutting down the government is just creating the kind of crisis Trump would like to justify his saving the nation by disbanding Congress and ruling by edict.  Perhaps though it could be driven the other way if enough Repuglicans can be made to see that as a bridge too far.  So far though they seem inclined to roll belly up, and the Dem's aren't providing any leadership at the top.  All the courage is in the junior members.

Brent

What are the main reasons the democrats oppose the CR? I skimmed the article but it doesn't say. AG 

Do you think Schumer did the right thing in voting in favor in favor of cloture and then for the CR?  AG 

[Brent Meeker]

On 3/15/2025 8:36 AM, Alan Grayson wrote:

On Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 7:57:32 AM UTC-6 Alan Grayson wrote:

On Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 10:09:15 PM UTC-6 Brent Meeker wrote:

I'm concerned that shutting down the government is just creating the kind of crisis Trump would like to justify his saving the nation by disbanding Congress and ruling by edict.  Perhaps though it could be driven the other way if enough Repuglicans can be made to see that as a bridge too far.  So far though they seem inclined to roll belly up, and the Dem's aren't providing any leadership at the top.  All the courage is in the junior members.

Brent

What are the main reasons the democrats oppose the CR? I skimmed the article but it doesn't say. AG 

Do you think Schumer did the right thing in voting in favor in favor of cloture and then for the CR?  AG

Passing the CR means not using filibuster.  Essentially it's capitulating to the Republican measure.  My criticism is that they gave in without getting anything for it.  They should have held out the threat of a shut down as a negotiating tactic, and gone to the public saying we're doing this to save Ukraine and USAID and medical research.

Brent

[Alan Grayson]

Schumer said he was fearful that if a shutdown occurred, it would give Trump more power to determine which federal employees could be fired as non-essential, and it might weaken the court actions to reinstate those already fired. I tend to agree he did the prudent thing. AG

[Alan Grayson]

The counter-argument is that the CR contains $13 billion in unspecified cuts to discretionary spending. This means the CR allows large cuts to any individual agencies, contracts, etc., which Trump desires. So it's arguable if Schumer did the right action. AG 

[John Clark]

On Sat, Mar 15, 2025 at 11:48 AM Brent Meeker <meeke...@gmail.com> wrote:

> They should have held out the threat of a shut down as a negotiating tactic

But I think it's entirely possible that Musk and Trump wanted the government shutdown and were disappointed when it was not, because then they could've declared that a third of government employees were vital, mostly military, and put everybody else on furlough and never rehire them again.  

 John K Clark    See what's on my new list at  Extropolis

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[Alan Grayson]

I agree. Moreover, the court cases ordering the rehiring of fired government workers would have been put on weaker grounds. Schumer made the right call. Incidentally, I read that he graduated valedictorian in the same high school in Brooklyn, NY, that my mother attended, Madison HS. AG 

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