Even before the federal government shutdown started almost a month ago, Republicans united around the label of a “Schumer shutdown,” and such blame is sticking. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, joined the Americans for Prosperity Ohio chapter for a tele town hall this week, with a focus on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Husted has referred to the “Schumer shutdown” early on, as he did during his interview with The Daily Signal last month, over a week before the shutdown began. The focus this time was no different.
“Why is Sen. Schumer holding government hostage? Why aren’t we getting this done?” Donovan O’Neil, the chapter’s state director, asked Husted during the event. “It’s a clean continuing resolution, no deals, no carve-outs, no special interest here. What is it that you’re hearing and seeing out there that’s causing this shutdown to linger as long as it has?”
Husted brought up past comments from the minority leader.
“As Chuck Schumer said in the past, what he wouldn’t do, he said, ‘I will not let my opponents hold me hostage in return for opening the government.’ Well, we want him to live up to the thing he asked us to do all those years as Republicans, and he needs to reopen the government so we can begin some of those conversations,” Husted shared.
As a way to “play it straight,” Husted also addressed what Republicans have consistently brought up, which is Democrats’ focus on providing health care for illegal immigrants paid for by taxpayer dollars.
“I will say that what they claim that they want is the resolution that they offered, which would have added $1.5 trillion in new spending that’s not paid for, and it would have allowed for legal immigrants to receive health care to be paid for through the Medicaid program, that would allow Medicaid to reimburse hospitals and health care providers for services that people who are not in this country illegally [sic], so that I something that I can’t be for,” Husted explained.
This narrative has come up before, Husted reminded. “We ran an election, we wanted only people in this country who are American citizens to be receiving medical care paid for by the American taxpayer. And so that’s one of the things.”
Another concern Husted brought up includes what Democrats want to cut. He mentioned how the Democrats’ plan “even though it increased spending that wasn’t paid for by $1.5 trillion, it cut 50 million from rural hospitals, something that the Republican team put in the budget reconciliation package.” These issues, Husted said, present “kind of a non-starter.”
Husted also brought “the political tune” into the conversation. “Let’s be honest. I think that the radical Left, led by [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] and others, really put a lot of pressure on [Schumer] to stand up to President [Donald] Trump. More and more and more, he just is capitulating to that group,” Husted offered. “He wants the government shutdown to prove that he can stand up to President Trump, and that’s all fine and dandy, except for the fact that this hurts the American people. And Chuck Schumer has said every day that this shutdown goes on, it’s good for us. What he meant is good for Democrats politically, but I disagree with him, because it’s bad for the American people.”
Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., whom Husted mentioned in the exchange with O’Neil, has become a prolific influence in the Democratic Party. There’s also speculation that she may primary Schumer in 2028.
In March, Schumer caved and voted to advance a continuing resolution, which ultimately passed. He had previously claimed that Democrats were united in denying Republicans enough votes for their CR. Not only had Schumer caved, but he also earned the ire from Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats.
A press release from the Ohio chapter also referenced support from Americans for Prosperity for the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, described as “a bill that would require Congress to remain in session until it passes the bills necessary to fund the government, ensuring stability in the government and eliminating shutdowns as a political weapon.”
That bill is sponsored by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., whose office provided a statement for The Daily Signal. “The Senator is grateful for AFP’s support of the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. We need to stop the cycle of government shutdowns, and that’s exactly what this bill would do,” said a Lankford spokesman.
Americans for Prosperity Ohio’s chapter has been posting and reposting to X continuously about the shutdown, including how Democrats see it as leverage.
Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., who is the minority whip, and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., have openly admitted that they see the shutdown as “a leverage” or “lever.”
As November approaches, concerns pile up with regards to government assistance programs, which Husted has posted about.
Democrats may no longer be so united in their strategy. “Democrats wobble as pressure to end shutdown ramps up,” The Hill reported on Wednesday morning.
While Republicans have a majority in the House and Senate, they do not have 60 Senate members to overcome a filibuster. Democrats like Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada have voted to fund the government, as has Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, who caucuses with Democrats. Five more are needed, as Husted noted.
