{"id":7223,"date":"2025-03-13T12:03:46","date_gmt":"2025-03-13T12:03:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/capitol-agenda-senate-dems-last-minute-shutdown-gambit\/"},"modified":"2025-03-13T12:03:46","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T12:03:46","slug":"capitol-agenda-senate-dems-last-minute-shutdown-gambit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/capitol-agenda-senate-dems-last-minute-shutdown-gambit\/","title":{"rendered":"Capitol agenda: Senate Dems\u2019 last-minute shutdown gambit"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Senate Democrats are still not committing to helping Republicans pass a seven-month funding stopgap, edging the country closer to a government shutdown as they attempt to force a vote on a shorter funding patch.<\/p>\n

After two days of lengthy closed-door caucus talks (and another planned for Thursday), Democrats emerged with an attempted strategy<\/u><\/a> Wednesday afternoon: Democrats won\u2019t give Republicans the votes to advance the stopgap funding bill, known as a continuing resolution or CR, until they get an amendment vote on a \u201cclean\u201d CR through April 11.<\/p>\n

Democrats have some leverage, despite being in the minority. In order to meet the Friday night deadline to avoid a shutdown, Republicans will need all 100 senators to agree to speed up the process. Republicans also need at least eight Democrats to overcome a filibuster and advance the CR.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll see today if Democrats\u2019 strategy holds. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has pushed for the April 11 CR, but hasn\u2019t officially weighed in. Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he did not believe Senate Democrats had made an offer, though he said \u201cwe\u2019re open\u201d to conversations about amendments.<\/p>\n

But the Democrats\u2019 gambit will likely do little except stave off the decision they have long dreaded: shut down the government to stand up to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk\u2019s spending cuts or stand aside and leave their unilateral government reductions unchecked.<\/p>\n

Republicans have one Democratic \u201cyes\u201d vote: Sen. John Fetterman. In the \u201cno\u201d column: Sens. John Hickenlooper, Mark Warner, Jeff Merkley, Chris Coons, Adam Schiff, Tim Kaine and Peter Welch. But keep an eye out for which Democratic senators will vote to proceed to consideration of the bill \u2014 where Republicans actually need Democratic support to get the necessary 60 votes \u2014 even if they won\u2019t vote for passage \u2014 which only requires a simple majority.<\/p>\n

Who we\u2019re watching:<\/b> Swing-state Sens. Mark Kelly, Elissa Slotkin, Ruben Gallego and Gary Peters. Kelly said Wednesday evening he was undecided on the procedural vote to advance the CR. Slotkin referred reporters back to her Sunday show comments, where she said she would \u201cwithhold\u201d her vote until she got certain assurances about government cuts.<\/p>\n

House Democrats have only added to the pressure on their Senate colleagues, after they voted almost unanimously against the funding bill Tuesday. During their annual issues conference on Wednesday, their message to Senate Democrats was clear: vote \u201cno\u201d on the continuing resolution.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re standing on the side of working families,\u201d Democratic Whip Katherine Clark said. \u201cAnd that’s why our message to the Senate is: Also stand with us on that side.\u201d<\/p>\n

What else we\u2019re watching:<\/b><\/p>\n