‘I Have the Stomach for It’: Democrats Willing To Allow Shutdown If Republicans Can’t Pass Budget
Democratic lawmakers won’t bail out Speaker Mike Johnson
Democrats no longer should be stepping in to pass federal budgets in the House if the Republicans who control the chamber can’t muster their own votes — even if it means that the federal government shuts down.
That’s according to Democratic Rep Becca Balint, of Vermont.
In recent years, Democrats stepped up to save Republican Speaker Mike Johnson’s budget bills, when he couldn’t rally the support of his own members.
But no more, says Balint, who explained that the new, harder line stance is necessary to combat authoritarianism and budget-cutting by Donald Trump and his advisor, billionaire Elon Musk.
Lawmakers must pass new legislation to fund the federal government beyond March 14, or the government will have to shut down.
“I always have hope in my heart. But I will tell you, just moments ago, I saw a text flashed across my phone saying once again, Republicans were not ready to bring a budget to the Budget Committee, and they keep putting it off and punting,” said Balint, a member of the House Budget Committee. “So, of course, I want [House Minority Leader] Hakeem Jeffries and his team to be working with Republicans. I want our ranking member of Appropriations, Rosa DeLauro, to work hard with the chair of Appropriations. And the best outcome for Americans is for us to agree on top-line numbers.
“However, I just want to remind you that at every step, when we have negotiated in good faith, the speaker has betrayed us,” she added. “And so I don’t have a lot of confidence in his ability to stick to an agreement when the last time Musk got involved and then Trump came, you know, following behind and said, ‘We didn’t have a deal.’ So, I want to see the deal. I want to make sure it is a deal that is in support working people across this country. And if not, we’re going to hold the line.”
Also on Sunday, Democratic Sen Andy Kim (D-NJ) was interviewed, and he was resolute, even if it means a federal shutdown, saying, “This is on them. This is about whether or not they can get the votes. They are the majority. And if they cannot govern, then, you know, that’s for the American people to see.”
Balint agreed, if it meant preserving programs from Trump’s budget axe.
“If that’s what it takes to make sure that we are securing Social Security, Medicare, and all of those programs that not just Vermonters —but Americans — rely on, we have to be able to have the stomach to stand up to this would-be dictator that is running roughshod all over our government right now through Elon Musk,” she said. “And so, I certainly have the fortitude, I have the stomach for it, if that’s what it takes. Is that where we want to be? Absolutely not. But no, we are not going to give away the farm, as we say in Vermont.”
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