Rushmore State News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) spoke on the Senate floor on the eighth day of the ongoing government shutdown, attributing responsibility to Democratic leadership and left-wing interest groups. Thune criticized Democrats for not supporting a short-term funding resolution passed by the House of Representatives, which he described as a "clean, short-term, nonpartisan" bill with no policy riders or Republican priorities.

Thune outlined the current situation, stating, "A clean resolution to fund the government, which there are 55 senators – 55 out of 100 senators are voting for the clean, short-term funding resolution that would open up the government. The president of the United States has said that, as soon as it is passed in the Senate, he will sign it into law."

He contrasted this with a Democratic proposal that he claimed would increase spending by $1.5 trillion, provide free health care for noncitizens, and eliminate a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals. According to Thune, this proposal lacks enough support in both chambers of Congress and would not be signed into law by the president.

Thune argued that passing the House resolution would allow federal employees to return to work and restore normal operations for government agencies. He said, "The government needs to be funded. Federal employees need to go back to work. Federal agencies and departments need to be open and providing the services that the American people expect."

Citing recent polling data, Thune noted, "In fact, there’s a new Harvard-Harris poll that came out Monday that found that 70 percent of voters oppose a government shutdown. 70 percent. And of interest to my Democrat colleagues, 65 percent of voters – including 63 percent of independents – think Democrats should end the shutdown by accepting a continuing resolution like the clean funding resolution I just described that’s in front of us."

Thune also referenced media reports about progressive groups influencing Democratic leaders' strategy during the shutdown: “A recent Axios article reported, and I quote, ‘Progressive grassroots groups are blasting congressional Democrats on speed dial to “hold the line” in any negotiations to reopen the government.’ Now, that followed an Axios report that found, and I quote again, ‘Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his staff are closely coordinating their government shutdown strategy with outside liberal groups … Backing down and helping fund the government, like Schumer did in March, is unacceptable, the groups have told his team.’ ‘Backing down and helping fund the government, like Schumer did in March, is unacceptable, the groups have told his team.’”

He concluded his remarks by urging Democratic senators to support reopening the government: “Now, Mr. President, Democrats will get another chance this week to vote to keep the government open. And I hope the Democrat leader and Democrat senators can summon up some of that concern they used to have about shutdowns, and vote to reopen the government.”