Rushmore State News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker to discuss ongoing efforts in Congress to fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown.

Thune explained the Senate is considering a seven-week funding resolution intended to allow time for the normal appropriations process. He stated, “This is a simple, seven-week funding resolution to allow us to do a normal appropriations process, something that Democrat senators have said that they want to see done, but something that Leader Schumer didn’t do when they had the majority. They didn’t do appropriation bills. This is new leadership. We’re trying to do appropriation bills in the old-fashioned way, in an open, transparent way, where the Appropriations Committee writes the bills with Democrat and Republican input, reports them out to the floor, where we have an open amendment process. This is simply about keeping that appropriations process going …”

He emphasized bipartisan support for previous appropriations efforts: “We did this 13 times when they had the majority. In every circumstance, Republicans delivered the votes – so much so that the lowest vote count on all 13 of those was 65 senators. This is a simple, straightforward deal to keep the government running, so for the next seven weeks, we have an opportunity to finish the appropriations process.”

Thune criticized Democrats for what he described as political maneuvering: “[Democrats are] trying to hijack it and load up all this liberal special interest stuff that they’re working with these outside groups to do. It’s politics. It is political posturing. They are afraid of their base, and they’re trying to do something to get them motivated and not angry at them.”

Addressing concerns about a possible shutdown, Thune referenced comments by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: “Chuck Schumer said a few months ago that a government shutdown would be chaotic, harmful, and painful. He’s right! And that’s why we shouldn’t do it … It’s a pretty straightforward … argument … I’m very comfortable with the position that we have. It’s to fund the government, finish the appropriations process, deal with the issues the Democrats want to deal with after we keep the government open.”

On premium tax credits and related negotiations during budget talks, Thune said: “[Premium tax credits don’t expire] until the end of the year. We can have that conversation, but before we do, release the hostage. Set the American people free, keep the government open, and then let’s have a conversation about those premium tax credits.

“I’m certainly open to that. I think we all are. I will say that … particular program is desperately in need of reform. It’s fraught with waste, fraud, and abuse, so we are going to have … reforms if we take action there. But I think there’s potentially a path forward.

“We have to see where it goes, but we can’t do it while the American people are being held hostage by the Democrats in a government shutdown. Keep the government open. Let’s fund the government, and then let’s have the conversation about the premium tax credits. It’s a fairly straightforward argument that we’re making.”

Looking ahead to an upcoming White House meeting on funding issues Thune remarked: “Rank-and-file Democrats are getting nervous, and Sen. Schumer is too. The far left has painted them into an unsustainable corner, and they know it. Hopefully Sen. Schumer sees the light and listens to the same voice that walked him and his colleagues away from the edge of a shutdown in March. If a White House meeting helps him get there, I welcome the opportunity.

“Fundamentally, nothing has changed though and choice remains same: Democrats can either vote for a clean short-term nonpartisan CR that prioritizes American people or they can choose completely avoidable shutdown that prioritizes politics above all else.”