Ahead of critical vote on a bill to fund the government, Democrats accused Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of “capitulating” to the GOP after the New York Democrat announced he’ll back a Republican measure that scales back domestic spending for the remainder of 2024.
Top Democratic leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, took the unusual step of urging Senate Democrats to revolt against Mr. Schumer and vote against the bill.
Dozens of other House Democrats joined in the rebellion, sending a letter across the Capitol, urging their colleagues not to follow Mr. Schumer and not “give in” to the GOP.
Mr. Schumer and several other Democrats announced they will vote for the spending measure. At least eight Democrats are needed to avert a filibuster and allow the bill to pass.
The 66 Democrats say Mr. Schumer “capitulated” by agreeing to vote for the bill, while “Squad” leader Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called support for the bill by any Senate Democrat “unthinkable.”
Mr. Schumer’s decision to cast a “yes” vote came after a heated, closed-door Democrat caucus meeting in which at least one senator, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, warned against the fallout from a government shutdown under President Trump.
SEE ALSO: Trump congratulates Schumer for breaking with Dems on shutdown plan
Mr. Schumer said after the meeting that the spending bill is “very bad” but a shutdown “has consequences for America that are much, much worse.”
Dozens of Senate Democrats, however, are poised to buck Mr. Schumer and vote against the measure, including Democrat leadership member Patty Murray of Washington.
The Democrat civil war erupted ahead of a midnight deadline to pass the bill and keep the government funded and fully operational.
Republicans have been taunting Democrats who plan to vote against the bill, posting on social media their past statements opposing government shutdowns.
Democrats have long enjoyed labeling the GOP the “shutdown party,” but Mrs. Pelosi and other party lawmakers say they’d rather have a shutdown than support the legislation, which they say includes “draconian Republican cuts” to “lifesaving government services.”
The bill pares back domestic spending by $13 billion and increases defense spending by $6 billion.
“America has experienced a Trump shutdown before – but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse. Democrats must not buy into this false choice. We must fight back for a better way,” Mrs. Pelosi said.
Democrats say the party should block the bill, insisting on a one-month funding extension without any new cuts and then negotiations on a bipartisan agreement.
Republicans have no plans to cave in to Democrat demands, however, and are intent on blaming them for a shutdown if they block the bill.
Mr. Trump congratulated Mr. Schumer in a social media post.
“Took guts and courage,” Mr Trump said. “A non pass would be a Country destroyer, approval will lead us to new heights.”
Mr. Jeffries, flanked by House Minority Whip Katherine Clark and House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and fresh from House Democrats’/ policy retreat in Virginia, dodged nearly a dozen questions on whether Mr. Schumer should be pushed aside.
“This is not about one individual. This is about the American people,” Mr. Jeffries said. “We made a decision based on the four corners of this bill. It will hurt everyday Americans, in our opinion, as Donald Trump and House Republicans have been doing for the last several weeks.”
