Democrats Aim to ‘Score Cheap Political Points’ on Shutdown, House GOP Leader Says

House Republicans are looking to pass a continuing resolution on Tuesday to keep the government running. If a resolution isn’t passed by Friday, then nonessential parts of the government will temporarily shut down.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told The Daily Signal that congressional Democrats appear to be angling to shut the government down.

“Congressional Democrats, ‘led’ by [Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.] are not only planning on voting for a government shutdown, they are craving it,” the Minnesota Republican contended.

“Rather than put America first and keep the government open and working for the American people, they plan to manipulate this constitutional obligation of Congress to score cheap political points. It is shameful,” Emmer said.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, noted that opposing funding the government doesn’t make sense for the pro-Big Government party.

“I think they’re [Democrats] conflicted on this [shutting the government down]. Because I think that on the one hand, they are complaining about thousands of layoffs, but I don’t think they’ve really thought through whether or not they’re willing to give a furlough to over a million people,” the former Maryland physician said to The Daily Signal.

Harris told The Daily Signal that he thinks the continuing resolution will pass on Tuesday with Democrats’ support in both houses.

The Democrats’ leadership “I think, is going to try to convince all the Democrats to vote against it, but I bet there will be a handful of Democrats who look at a Democrat Party with no message, and I think they think that shutting down the government is not an adequate message,” Harris said.

Republican members of Congress have stressed that a government shutdown does nothing productive and hurts American taxpayers for no reason.

A government shutdown in these circumstances would still mean that essential services such as Social Security would continue to operate, and federal workers who are furloughed would receive back pay once the government funding is passed. 

“House Democrats are trying to shut down the government, which hurts the American people and obstructs the plan to cut waste, fraud, and abuse while NOT raising taxes,” Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., told The Daily Signal. 

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., also emphasized that a government shutdown punishes the hardworking American taxpayer.

 “Washington Democrats want to shut down the government to ‘stick it to Trump.’ In reality, they’re sticking it to the American people by putting partisan politics before the basic duties of their job,” Carter said. 

Republicans have taken unprecedented steps to reduce waste, fraud, and abuse through President Donald Trump’s creation of and support for the Department of Government Efficiency. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has convened the new House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, chaired by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. 

Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., pointed out that the continuing resolution would reduce government spending by freezing the funding, thereby preventing increases in spending. 

“With over $37 TRILLION in national debt, this CR will actually do something to curb spending,” Norman told The Daily Signal. 

Experts have warned that the United States will be undermined economically if it does not get its spending under control. 

Richard Stern, chief budget analyst at The Heritage Foundation, told The Daily Signal: “The deficits produce higher inflation rates and higher interest rates. Mortgage rates at a crushing 7%, and the 20% price spike for most families over the last four years, [both] results of reckless federal deficits and spending.”

Norman highlighted the importance of getting spending under control now when Republicans have control of the presidency and both chambers of Congress. 

“No more deranged Democrat funding projects will be allowed to slip through the cracks. We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fix our red-zone spending levels and return to a budget surplus. I look forward to supporting this clean CR and watching Democrats continue to stand in disarray with no leader, no plan, and no vision,” the South Carolina Republican continued. 

Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, pointed out the hypocrisy of Democrats likely voting against funding the government.

“Ironically, Democrats are threatening a government shutdown this week—the very thing they have said for years is irresponsible governing,” Pfluger told The Daily Signal.

“But let me be clear: Not liking the policies the American people voted for is no grounds to shut the government down. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for the CR this week and keep the government open and working for the American people,” Pfluger said.

Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., told The Daily Signal that he views the likely Democratic obstruction as evidence that they have no plan.

“These tantrums and political games just show that Democrats have no plan other than obstruct and resist our efforts to secure the border, lower taxes, and cut waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars,” the Michigan congressman said.

“I’m confident their efforts will fall flat, and we will continue to alleviate the Biden-era pain of a floundering economy and open borders,” Bergman concluded.

Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., told The Daily Signal that Democrats should be supporting the continuing resolution because it essentially continues their legislative priorities.

“They [Democrats] should be drooling over it and saying, ‘Good, we got another six months of our bill.’ There’s no reason they shouldn’t vote for it. You know, who shouldn’t vote for it? Republicans, because it’s [Democrats’] their bill. We should have done something better,” McCormick said.

“I certainly don’t want to freeze the government. I don’t want to shut it down. I don’t, but the fact is, we have not done the right thing, and what’s going to be different next year?” the Georgia congressman asked rhetorically.

“Now, they may be able to convince me. But they got a long way to go, and I told leadership this already,” McCormick concluded.

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