Republicans erupt over shutdown chaos, accuse Dems of holding government 'hostage'

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/republicans-erupt-over-shutdown-chaos-
accuse-dems-holding-government-hostage

Republicans and Democrats are trading barbs on Wednesday morning as the 
federal government settles into the first day of a shutdown.

"Democrats made this choice, Democrats forced this crisis, and Democrats 
alone will answer to hardworking Americans now paying the price for their 
reckless agenda," Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger, R-
Texas, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday night.

The government entered a shutdown just after midnight Wednesday after the 
Senate failed to advance a short-term federal funding bill called a 
continuing resolution (CR) hours earlier. The measure did not reach the 
necessary 60 votes to overcome a Senate filibuster — falling 55-45 — with 
just three Democrats joining the GOP on Tuesday night.

Certain federal services will temporarily cease to function, and some 
government workers — including the military and air traffic controllers at 
airports — must continue to clock in under deferred pay.

Veteran services and military operations will continue to be funded, and 
Social Security checks will continue to be sent out to Americans, among 
other essential services.

But some federal workers could lose their jobs altogether, as indicated by 
a memo sent to federal agencies earlier this month by Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought.

Republicans are now blaming Democrats for plunging the government into a 
shutdown, while Democrats are accusing Republicans of refusing to 
negotiate on what's traditionally a bipartisan exercise.

"Virginia is home to tens of thousands of federal workers, contractors and 
service members who keep our country running. Tonight, they are once again 
being forced to wonder when they will get their next paycheck — not 
because they failed to do their jobs, but because lawmakers in Congress 
failed to do theirs," Rep. Eugene Vindman, D-Va., whose district includes 
the D.C. suburbs, said in a Tuesday night statement. 

"Trump and his rubber-stamp Republicans have chosen to hurt Virginia 
families instead of working across the aisle. It’s past time they come to 
the table so we can find real solutions, reopen the government, and 
deliver for the people we serve."

Meanwhile, Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, whose coal country district 
includes Youngstown, told Fox News Digital, "The current government 
shutdown is the culmination of months of the same tired and disruptive 
tactics used by the left against the American people."

"In November 2024, President Trump and the Republicans received an 
overwhelming mandate to govern. Yet, every time we try to implement the 
changes demanded by voters, we face fierce resistance — even on 
straightforward measures like a clean CR, which Congress approved 13 times 
before," Rulli said.

Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., wrote on X, "FACT: Schumer led a shutdown to 
hold the government hostage for a $1.5 trillion liberal payout."

GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN AFTER CONGRESS DEADLOCKS ON SPENDING DEAL

His message came in reference to Democrats' own CR proposal calling for a 
repeal of healthcare spending cuts made in the GOP's "Big, Beautiful 
Bill." Their plan would have also restored funding to NPR and PBS that was 
cut by the Trump administration earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Democrats have also demanded any CR include Obamacare 
subsidies, enhanced during the COVID-19 pandemic but due to expire this 
year, in exchange for their votes.

"Thousands of hard-working federal employees in Maryland's 7th 
Congressional District woke up this morning to learn whether they were 
furloughed or required to work without pay," Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., 
wrote on X. "This shutdown was entirely avoidable. Democrats in Washington 
remain ready, willing and able to negotiate a bipartisan agreement to keep 
the government open and lower healthcare costs for Americans everywhere."

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., similarly said in a statement, "Democrats 
have been clear for months: we will not support a budget that inflicts a 
healthcare crisis on the American people in order to fund Trump’s 
continued destruction of our democracy and out-of-control mass 
deportations."

First-term Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, countered that "Democrats created 
this crisis."

"Democrats in the Senate just voted to shut the government down. This will 
impact food assistance programs, veterans’ care, troops’ pay, TSA agents’ 
and air traffic controllers’ pay, and so much more. Their reason? They 
want to restore taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens and prop up 
liberal news outlets with your $$," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-
Minn., said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem 
Jeffries, D-N.Y., have also heaped blame on one another's parties, with 
both expected to make their cases to Americans on Wednesday.

The Senate is also expected to vote on the CR again on Wednesday.


-- 
November 5, 2024 - Congratulations President Donald Trump.  We look 
forward to America being great again.

We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that 
stupid people won't be offended.

Every day is an IQ test. Some pass, some, not so much.

Thank you for cleaning up the disasters of the 2008-2017, 2020-2024 Obama 
/ Biden / Harris fiascos, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the 
The World According To Garp.  Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood 
queer liberal democrat donors.