Democrats pressed to fight Trump for government financing this time

Washington – Congress Democrats face calls to avoid repetition of the last federal expenses confrontation with Donald Trump, which resulted in a shameful cave that seriously damaged the position of the party with its own central supporters.

This time, progressive activists want the Democrats to make stronger demands that reverse some of the president’s controversial policies in exchange for their votes in a bill that maintains the government open next month, even if it runs the risk of causing a partial closure.

“I want them to really fight instead of surrendering immediately like the last time,” Ezra Levin, an indivisible co -director, a progressive movement organization founded in 2016, told News themezone. “In The absence of clear demands, you will not win this fight. “

Republicans control both the camera and the Senate, but given their frantic conference in the lower chamber, and their lack of a majority of filibusters at the high, democratic votes will be needed to approve legislation to avoid a closure. The way in which the party drives this fight could have serious repercussions, especially with the half -period elections next year that are coming on the horizon.

In March, after pointing out that a draft Republican Government Financing Law that had unexpectedly passed through the Chamber, the leader of the Senate Minority, Chuck Schumer (Dn.y.) would be opposed, ended up voting for the bill along with nine other Democrats. The Democrats within the Congress and outside were furious; At that time, billionaire Elon Musk was just beginning to break down federal agencies.

“I think it is a great slap on the face, and I think there is a wide sense of betrayal,” representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Dn.y.) He said to journalists At the moment.

Kevin Dietsch through Getty Images

The main Democrats have not publicly established their demands for the expense fight of this month, insisting, as the last time, that an agreement to finance the Government will require bipartisan support to become law.

“The only way to avoid a closure is to work in a bipartisan manner, with Democrats and Republicans, with a bill that leads both matches in the Senate,” said the leader of the Senate minority, Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) on Wednesday at a press conference. “Republicans once again threaten to do it alone, directing our country towards a closure and worsen the medical care crisis.”

Democratic senators have hinted at the medical care crisis that Schumer speaks could be key to democratic demands. They have complained bitterly about the Medicaid cuts in the main bill of tax cuts that Republicans approved during the summer, as well as the need to extend the subsidies of Obamacare’s insurance premiums that expire at the end of the year.

They also warned that the recent attempt of the Trump administration to advance in a “pocket termination” of $ 5 billion, or an effort to terminate the funds, the congress already approved very close to the end of the fiscal year, would be counterproductive and increase the probabilities of a closure. Pocket termination They are illegal, According to the United States Government Independent Office, but the White House Administration and Budget Office, Russ Vought, has defended The movement.

“A pocket termination is a poke in the eye. The WBO director wants the government to close,” Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) said Wednesday.

Some Republicans have also criticized the Trump administration for trying to illegally retain almost $ 5 billion in foreign aid through pocket termination. Senator Susan Collins (R-MAINE), president of the Senate Assignments Committee, described it as a “clear violation of the law”, while Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaaska) said “would risk the entire process to chaos.”

The attempted pocket termination, as well as the reductions proposed by the White House in spending for the main health and education programs, could make it difficult for Democrats to agree to finance the government. There is already a generalized dissatisfaction with the party for not doing more to oppose the illegal and illegal power captillas of Trump in the capital of the nation.

“We are at a point where I honestly don’t care how the opinion of an expert about how it may or may not be a government closure in an election within a year. Sorry, we are beyond that,” the Democratic candidate for Maine Graham Platner’s Senate He told News themezone EITHERn Monday. “Whatever it can be done to reduce the speed of this speed towards authoritarianism that we are currently undertaking, anything we can do to reduce speed is necessary and should be done.”

“Everyone should leave,” added Tim Bailey, a retired Marine who appeared to listen to Platner to speak in a demonstration in Portland, Maine, on Monday. “That [Trump] He is doing it there, it’s horrible. I mean, it is just a bait and a change for all executive orders and shit and the laws that are breaking. “

But most Democratic senators are, for the moment, maintaining their dry dust.

“I think there is interest in finding a bipartisan path to follow. We will see what happens,” said Senator Jon Ossoff (D-G.), A vulnerable Democrat for re-election next year.

Meanwhile, at home, President Mike Johnson (R-La.) Said he is optimistic about avoiding a closure. “It will require that the leaders on both sides of the hall meet and do that,” he said on Tuesday.

Until now, rank democrats say it depends on Republicans to start the process. “Republicans are a majority and control the camera, so if they want to avoid the closure of the government, they will have to gather their shit,” said representative Melanie Stansbury (Dn.m.) to News themezone.

However, if the Republicans of the House of Representatives can approve a short -term law project that finances the government on their own, without putting any restriction on the Trump administration, it would again put the Senate Democrats in links. As in March, once again they would face a difficult decision to accept the bill or risk a government closure.

Levin said Wednesday that he did not understand why Senate Democrats had not yet become more specific.

“It’s simply disconcerting to me,” Levin said, suggesting that Democrats could ask for the Epstein’s archives, for example. “There are many very popular things that Democrats could present.”