Thune ready to make moves to override Schumer blockade

If we go back to March, Senator Chuck Schumer was telling everyone how horrible a government shutdown would be. So horrible, in fact, he voted with the GOP and found enough support to allow Thune to pass a resolution to only require a simple majority for the bill to pass, which it did with no Democrat support.

Now Schumer is playing hardball, and it looks like Speaker Johnson (R-LA) and Senator Thune (R-SD) are teaming up to beat the Dems.

We want it all

The spending bill is being used by Democrats to add all kinds of amendments so they can get their agenda achieved.

One of the key issues for Schumer and the Democrats is healthcare, as usual.

Schumer is now stepping to the line, saying he will not cross it until Democrats get what they want from this legislation.

According to Schumer, “things have changed,” and now a shutdown is the way to go.

Partner in crime

House Minority Leader Jeffries (D-NY) is now teaming up with Schumer to try to block the spending bill, as they are both rallying their respective caucuses to push back.

They stated, “The House Republican-only spending bill fails to meet the needs of the American people and does nothing to stop the looming healthcare crisis.”

Their statement continued, “At a time when families are already being squeezed by higher costs, Republicans refuse to stop Americans from facing double-digit hikes in their health insurance premiums.”

Thune responded, “I’m sure you’re all asking the question, are we or are we not going to have a Schumer shutdown? And it sounds like, from what he is indicating, that very well may happen.”

Great strategy

Speaker Johnson has decided that he will try to get a clean bill on the floor this week, meaning no extras, and only the spending required.

This will give him the best opportunity to avoid a conflict with the usual holdouts in the GOP, and it will also give Thune a bit of an advantage.

If a clean bill goes to the Senate and Democrats refuse to pass it, they own this shutdown, period. Johnson stated, “I don’t think that’s going to work. If the government is shut down because they make that their last stand, it will solely be blamed on Democrats.”

I think he is right. Dems need to save this fight for another day. Even though they will try to pin this on Republicans, if they block the bill, they own the shutdown, and people whose pockets are hurting are going to remember that come election day.