WASHINGTON, D.C. – The looming government shutdown remains a pressing concern as Senate Democrats have rejected a short-term spending bill passed by House Republicans. The bill aimed to avert a shutdown by keeping the government funded through November 21.
In an interview, Republican Representative Michael Baumgartner of Eastern Washington shared his thoughts on the ongoing negotiations. “As negotiations are ongoing let’s keep things where they are to keep the government open,” he said.
Baumgartner expressed concerns about Democratic actions. “Unfortunately what the Democrats are doing is they’re trying to use it as leverage on the government shutdown to introduce a bunch of Democratic priorities a lot of new spending that would go on and so it’s not the best way forward and we hope that the Democrats will work in a bipartisan fashion,” said Baumgartner.
On the other hand, Democrats have voiced their own concerns, citing a lack of trust in Republicans due to previous rescissions under the Trump administration. They argue that these actions make it difficult to work in a bipartisan manner on spending resolutions and future budgets.
The House’s resolution passed mostly along party lines, and it is expected to face significant challenges in the Senate. Democrats worry that Republicans could rescind any new agreements, similar to past actions by President Trump and the GOP.
As the deadline approaches, both parties are under pressure to find a compromise to avoid a government shutdown.
