Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Thursday his intention to vote for a Republican-authored bill that would fund federal agencies through September and prevent a government shutdown. His support indicates that Senate Democrats are likely prepared to provide the necessary votes to move the spending measure along to a final vote.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer described the vote as a difficult decision for Democrats, who have been pressured to block the House-passed bill that they believe gives President Trump too much authority over spending decisions. Despite this pressure, Schumer emphasized that he believed a government shutdown would have grave consequences for America, allowing the Trump administration to potentially eliminate vital government services at a faster pace.
The House-passed spending measure allocates a $6 billion increase to military budgets while cutting $13 billion from non-defense spending, a move that Democrats argue will harm vulnerable Americans. Many House Democrats voted against the bill and urged their Senate counterparts to do the same.
The decision by Schumer to support the spending measure has been met with criticism from progressive activists who argue that it is a “weak move” that plays into the hands of Trump and Republicans. Despite this backlash, Senator Schumer believes that preventing a government shutdown is crucial at this time.
With Republicans holding a slim majority in the Senate, Schumer’s support for the bill may be instrumental in avoiding a potential shutdown. The bill must receive the support of at least eight Democrats in order to advance to a final vote in the Senate.
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