Summary
Speaking on Meet the Press, Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) warned that Republicans shouldn’t count on Democratic support for a continuing resolution before the March 14 deadline.
He criticized Trump’s efforts to dismantle agencies like USAID and the Department of Education.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) echoed concerns over agency budget cuts.
Kim stressed that if a shutdown occurs, Republicans should be blamed for failing to govern.
The problem is that Republicans already have the votes to pass whatever budget they want: they just all have to agree. Kim is just saying that if Republicans can’t agree, Democrats shouldn’t help them like they have in the past.
House Democrats helped to pass CRs in the past because they also held the Presidency and the Senate, so a government shutdown would rightly be blamed on both parties. This time, though, Republicans own the whole enchilada. Why should Democrats help unless they get something tangible out of it in the budget?
Fair enough. I just hate watching this train wreck unfold in front of me.