Senator John Thune, US Senator for South Dakota | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator John Thune, US Senator for South Dakota | Official U.S. Senate headshot
U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) addressed the Senate regarding the ongoing government shutdown, now in its second day. Thune criticized Democrats for rejecting what he described as a "clean, nonpartisan funding bill" that would have kept the government open while bipartisan appropriations work continued.
Thune noted that no votes would take place on this day due to Jewish colleagues observing Yom Kippur but said voting would resume the following day. He stated, "And we’re going to give my Democrat colleagues another opportunity to reopen the government by passing the clean, nonpartisan funding extension before us."
He argued that Democrats are under pressure from their party's left wing and suggested this was influencing their stance on the shutdown. Thune cited a Democratic House member who said, “This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups are making for Democratic Party leaders to put on a show of their opposition to President Trump. The shutdown is hurting Americans and our economy … [N]ormal policy disagreements are no reason to subject our constituents to the continued harm of this shutdown.”
Thune also referenced statements from several organizations opposing a government shutdown, including law enforcement groups and labor unions. He quoted Teamsters’ president: “‘A shutdown will hurt working people. Period. … Senators should … pass the House-passed clean, short term funding bill.’”
Thune emphasized that Republicans were not seeking new partisan policies in exchange for reopening the government: “We are not asking Democrats to swallow a list of new Republican policies or partisan demands. Not in there.”
He pointed out bipartisan progress on appropriations bills in recent weeks and called for more Democrats to join Republicans in supporting a continuing resolution (CR) similar to those passed during previous administrations: “Democrats voted for clean CRs like the one before us 13 times – 13 times – during the Biden administration.”
Thune concluded by urging Democrats to support passage of what he called a clean CR in order to end the shutdown and resume legislative business.
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