{"id":7274,"date":"2025-03-14T12:22:29","date_gmt":"2025-03-14T12:22:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/capitol-agenda-schumer-stops-a-shutdown\/"},"modified":"2025-03-14T12:22:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-14T12:22:29","slug":"capitol-agenda-schumer-stops-a-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bluelightnews.com\/category\/politics\/capitol-agenda-schumer-stops-a-shutdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Capitol agenda: Schumer stops a shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chuck Schumer has given Senate Democrats an out \u2014 drastically lowering the chances of a government shutdown Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Senate minority leader, both privately to his caucus Thursday and in a floor speech shortly after<\/a>, said he would vote to advance a GOP-written stopgap to fund the government through September. He said Republicans\u2019 spending bill is \u201cvery bad.\u201d But he argued the \u201cpotential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse\u201d and would empower President Donald Trump and Elon Musk to further gut federal agencies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a remarkable shift. Just 24 hours before, Schumer had said Senate Republicans didn\u2019t have enough Democratic support to clear the 60-vote threshold to advance House Republicans\u2019 continuing resolution, or CR.<\/p>\n

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has now teed up that procedural vote for 1:15 p.m. \u2014 and indicated he\u2019d be willing to give Democrats a poised-to-fail vote on a four-week stopgap as part of a deal to speed up passage for Republicans\u2019 CR. All 100 senators would have to green-light that, and as of Thursday evening, Schumer said there was no time agreement.<\/p>\n

Republicans need eight Democrats to join them to advance the CR. There are at least two on board: Schumer and Sen. John Fetterman, who has for days been saying he wouldn\u2019t vote for a shutdown.<\/p>\n

But even as Schumer gave Democrats cover, a handful announced or reiterated their \u201cno\u201d votes after his speech. Several have yet to publicly weigh in.<\/p>\n

The backlash to Schumer\u2019s call<\/a> was swift. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries didn\u2019t criticize Schumer directly in private comments to his caucus but said House Democrats \u201cstood on the side of the American people.\u201d And Rep. Jim McGovern said he was \u201cextremely disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives them the ability, Elon Musk the ability, to go through and continue to do the shit he\u2019s doing,\u201d McGovern added.<\/p>\n

What else we’re watching:<\/b><\/p>\n