US Senate minority leader to vote to advance House-passed spending bill
Continuing resolution bill is 'very bad,’ Chuck Schumer says, while warning of 'much, much worse' consequences of potential shutdown for America
WASHINGTON
US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that he would vote to advance a House-passed government funding bill to avert a government shutdown.
"I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country, to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down," Schumer told the Senate floor.
On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted 217-213 to pass Republicans' six-month spending legislation backed by President Donald Trump to extend government funding through Sept. 30.
Schumer said that while the continuing resolution (CR) bill is "very bad," the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are "much, much worse."
"For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option," he said, adding it doesn't address many of the country's needs.
Schumer said that a shutdown would give Trump and tech-billionaire Elon Musk "a carte blanche to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now."
"President Trump and Republican leaders would like nothing more than to pull us into the mud of a protracted government shutdown. For Donald Trump, a shutdown would be a gift," he argued.
A government shutdown would lead to the shuttering of regional Veterans Affairs offices, leaving veterans without crucial services, he said.
With Republicans holding a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, eight Democrats are needed to join Republicans in supporting the measure to clear the 60-vote threshold and send the bill to Trump’s desk before current funding expires at 11.59 p.m. local time on Friday.
