Peter Schorsch
The federal government has shut down at the stroke of midnight Friday. That has halted all but the most essential operations and marred the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration in a striking display of Washington dysfunction.
Last-minute negotiations crumbled as Senate Democrats blocked a four-week stopgap extension in a late-night vote, causing the fourth government shutdown in a quarter century. Behind the scenes, however, leading Republicans and Democrats were trying to work out a compromise to avert a lengthy shutdown.
Here is what Florida politicians are saying about the shut down:
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson:
“These short-term funding bills are hurting our national security and, at some point, we have a responsibility to say enough is enough. Now efforts have intensified at a bipartisan solution. I am hopeful that an agreement may be reached in the next couple of days.”
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio:
“Tonight, some Senate Democrats decided to shut down the government over DACA. While I support addressing DACA in conjunction with increased border security, shutting down the government over this issue will prove impossible to justify.”
U.S. Rep. Val Demings:
“The bottom line is that this is a manufactured crisis, concocted by design or incompetence in order to force compromises on fundamental American values. But they’ve misjudged me, and I will not compromise on liberty, justice, and opportunity for all.
“The GOP controls the House, Senate, and White House. They have the ability to pass a comprehensive budget. Democrats voted in September to extend funding for three months, to allow more time to work on these priorities. Instead, Republicans chose to squander that time to give a tax break to themselves and their donors, and refused to work on any other critical programs.
“The GOP has forced our military to run on short-term spending bills that damage readiness and waste billions of dollars. They’ve done nothing to extend veterans care. They’ve allowed funding for children’s health insurance and community health centers to expire, and have failed to address the opioid crisis. They have done nothing to protect the DREAMers since the President ended the DACA program in September. These issues impact millions of Americans, there are existing bipartisan solutions for each, and it is long-past time to take action. Justice delayed is justice denied, and I’ve heard ‘later’ too often. Now is the time for action.
“I came to Congress to fight for the American people, and I’m not going to be distracted or dissuaded by political brinksmanship. This is about the American people. Americans go to work every day and should be able to afford healthcare for themselves and their children. Americans rebuild from hurricanes and struggle with addiction, and their government should have their backs. And we cannot forget that America is a nation of immigrants. More than 70% of Americans agree that DREAMers brought here as children should be allowed to remain in America.
“I will do everything in my power to reopen the government as soon as possible, but I will not, in the process, discard working Americans, seniors, veterans, hurricane victims, or children. I will continue to hold the Administration responsible for creating this shutdown through its inaction and its failure to lead.”
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel:
“The shutdown of the federal government is reckless and irresponsible. It may be especially harmful to our veterans, our seniors, and children’s health. That’s why I remain ready, willing, and eager to work with Republicans to negotiate a bipartisan agreement that would address the many challenges facing our nation. It must be done in a way that allows our military and all agencies the ability to have long term responsible planning and eliminates arbitrary budget caps that threaten our domestic and national security. The Congress must also immediately pass legislation to allow the thousands of people, known as DREAMers, who were brought to this country as children to remain legally.”
U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz:
“While a government shutdown is uncomfortable for many people, including government employees and families nationwide, the real victim of Washington’s inability to follow regular order of budget and appropriations is the United States Armed Forces.
“The brave men and women who serve, and their families, are profoundly affected by living CR to CR — short-term government funding bills that offer no real reform, and simply kick the can down the road for another month. I was proud to contribute to the House Budget Committee budget, which passed the House with my support. This was a fiscally responsible document, offering a robust increase in funding to America’s military, while trimming wasteful spending. The most recent continuing resolution, just like the previous CR, accomplishes none of those goals. While I hope that the government shutdown causes no one undue duress, if it takes a shutdown to get the Congressional budget process back on track, then it will have been valuable.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast:
“Thursday, the House passed an agreement to fund the government and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for 6 years, but sadly tonight, the Senate decided to put partisanship before the people they represent. The talking heads on tv are already debating who loses more from this shut down: Democrats or Republicans. But with both sides pointing fingers at each other, the real losers are the American people and the millions of children that rely on CHIP for their healthcare.
“It’s clear that Washington is fundamentally broken, and it won’t be fixed until our “leaders” start actually leading instead of trying to one up each other and get a sound bite to put in their next TV ad. Everybody supports extending CHIP and everybody supports keeping the government open, so let’s get this job done.”
U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney:
“On Thursday, I voted in favor of the House passed continuing resolution that properly funded our military, provided children’s health insurance (CHIP) for the next six years and averted a government shutdown. Sadly, Chuck Schumer and the Senate Democrats have chosen to place 800,000 illegal immigrants ahead of the needs of American citizens, including active duty soldiers and millions of children. The shutdown of our government is a manufactured crisis that is completely unnecessary and is totally unacceptable. Children’s health insurance and pay for our military will be discontinued immediately, while the issue of DACA, which is unrelated and does not belong in any government funding plan, is in effect until March. This type of political gamesmanship is exactly why people have such distain for Congress.”
Gubernatorial candidate Chris King:
“Trump and Republicans chose months ago to end protections for more than 70,000 Dreamers in Florida, and take healthcare away from nearly 375,000 kids in Florida. Now they put 800,000 federal workers at risk of furlough or mandatory, unpaid work. The #TrumpShutdown is on them, and you deserve leaders who will treat you with dignity and respect.
“This is the first time the government has ever been shutdown under one-party rule. But one-party rule is familiar to us here in Florida: For two decades, one-party rule hasn’t been working for Floridians. It is just another example of the failure of Republican elites, governing from crisis to crisis while working families suffer the consequences. This is why we have to send new leaders to Washington and Tallahassee, and why we must elect a new Democratic Governor this November.”
Gubernatorial candidate Philip Levine:
“While Washington politicians talk about shutting down the government, the American people want to protect 800,000 DACA children living in fear.”
CD 18 candidate Lauren Baer:
“Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House and yet they are unable to legislate. Blame for this avoidable government closure lies with Republican leadership and with legislators like Brian Mast who would rather tow the party line than vote in the interests of their constituents. The voters in FL-18 were clear. They wanted a deal that would extend CHIP, find a solution for DREAMERS, and keep the government open. Republicans need to get back to work and deliver what Americans are demanding.”
Florida Democratic Party chair Terrie Rizzo:
“There is no escaping the fact that Republicans own both houses of Congress and the White House — and when given the choice between political gamesmanship and keeping the government open for business, GOP leaders chose the former. Make no mistake, Mitch McConnell’s calculated decision to revoke the bipartisan framework for improving border security and extending DACA cost him the support of moderates in his own party, and voters in Florida will remember that this shut-down occurred under Republican watch.”
Florida House Democrats:
“We’re witnessing the President’s party at work; dysfunctional, disorderly, and dangerous. Even with control of all levels of our federal government, they continuously shift blame and vilify others.
“With the futures of nearly 800,000 young people and healthcare for 9 million children across our country hanging in the balance, President Trump and Republican leadership would rather barter over their extremist political priorities and blame others for their own failures.
“Despite having bipartisan support, a solution for DACA recipients and funding for children’s’ healthcare is simply not on the agenda for Republican leadership.
“Their blatant disregard for the ramifications of their unwillingness to compromise is sadly not a surprise. They don’t care about the consequences of their actions and they never had any intentions of working towards a solution for the good of society. The implications of their indifference will prevent the state from being able to draw down vital funds that protect our most vulnerable populations.
“Worst of all, this is just a game to President Trump. Even when his precious border wall was on the table during negotiations, it wasn’t enough. The President is running our country like he ran his failed businesses. Except this time, he can’t declare bankruptcy and instead of profits being the only risk, peoples’ lives are at stake.
“This has become the Republican blame game, and Floridians are done playing.”
Congress scheduled an unusual Saturday session to begin considering a three-week version of the short-term spending measure.
