Northeast South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) addressed the media today as the federal government faces a possible shutdown. Thune stated that Democrats are responsible for the current impasse, emphasizing that they have a straightforward decision to make regarding a short-term funding measure.

“Well, good afternoon, everyone.

“We are only hours away from a government shutdown, and the Democrats have a very clear, binary choice.

“They can choose to keep the government open by voting for a short-term, nonpartisan, clean continuing resolution, 24 pages long, or they can vote to shut the government down.

“That’s what we’re looking at.

“They, as you all know, have voted, during the time they had the majority, 13 different times, and when Biden was in the White House, on short-term continuing resolutions – 13 different times.

“And so it begs the question, what’s changed?

“And I think what’s changed is President Trump is in the White House.

“That’s what this is about.

“This is politics, and there isn’t any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown.

“This is something that has been done routinely – as I said, 13 different times – when the Democrats had the majority.

“But we are not going to be held hostage for over $1 trillion in new spending on a continuing resolution.

“Nor are we going to be held hostage to allow illegals to get free health care in a continuing resolution.

“These are things that they’re demanding as part of their so-called negotiation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, there isn’t anything here to negotiate.

“This is a routine funding resolution to keep the government open so that we can continue our appropriations work and fund the government the old-fashioned way – which is allowing the Appropriations Committee, Democrats and Republicans, to work together, as they have been.

“And by the way, the Democrat leader keeps talking about not consulting.

“The Appropriations Committee, they picked the date, Democrats and Republicans, the Big Four on the Appropriations Committee were consulting.

“They picked the date for the continuing resolution, November 21st.

“And so this has been an open process from the very beginning.

“This year we opened up the appropriations process; something that wasn’t done when Democrats had majority here in Senate.”

Thune urged Democratic senators who may disagree with their leadership's stance to consider avoiding additional costs associated with a shutdown. He reiterated his view that preventing closure of federal agencies remains possible if enough Democrats support passage of a temporary funding bill.

“But they have a clear choice in front of them today,” Thune continued. “And I hope there are Democrats out there – this may not represent view of their leadership but I’m hoping there are Democrats out there – who are reasonable and understand what’s at stake here; and as they have articulated many times in past: costs associated with American people with government shutdown.”

He concluded by placing responsibility for any potential shutdown on Senate Democrats: “This is totally avoidable. It is decision they're going have make; if government shuts down it is on Senate Democrats. The House has acted. The president’s ready sign bill. And all that's left is for eight Democrats join us passing bill today.”