The ongoing government shutdown has marked its 32nd day, leaving Americans in distress as essential assistance programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), teeter on the brink. More than 42 million people face the uncertainty of losing food assistance while partisan gridlock ensues on Capitol Hill. President Trump is currently seeking clarification from the courts to find a way to legally fund the SNAP benefits after federal judges blocked the Administration’s attempt. Unfortunately, as of now, the funds remain unattainable.
Republican Congressman Tom Emmer of Minnesota, the House Majority Whip, has stepped into the fray to highlight the efforts made by Republicans in resolving this crisis. It seems all the House Republicans have already done their homework by passing a clean Continuing Resolution (C.R.) well in advance of the September 30th deadline to keep the government afloat. But the Senate, apparently, missed the memo. With 53 Republicans in the Senate, a few Democrats need to jump ship to get that resolution to the floor. Chuck Schumer and his fellow Democrats have been less than helpful, not giving the needed votes, thus risking the food assistance for millions of Americans.
The congressman pointed out how Democrats have previously voted for similar clean C.R.s numerous times, including under the Biden Administration, sometimes voting yes 13 times and counting. Yet, here we are, with air traffic controllers and other federal employees not receiving paychecks, as Democrats continue their new pastime: stalling. Perhaps they fear the wrath of their “virulent, violent pro-terrorist wing” within their own party. Or maybe they’re waiting for some election theatrics to get through before deciding basic governance is necessary.
As the shutdown drags on, the question of compromise inevitably arises. Jonathan, the interviewer, suggests the age-old tool of negotiation, asking if there could be room for some give and take, perhaps addressing those health care subsidy concerns Democrats seem obsessed with. Congressman Emmer, however, sees through this flimsy guise, calling it nothing more than an excuse to load a bill with unrelated spending and policies, including increased taxpayer-funded programs for illegal immigrants and dismantling new healthcare funds. The demands sound more like an activist’s wish list than legitimate policy concerns.
In a saner world, passing the clean C.R. would be enough to get the government back up and functioning, but apparently, those days are behind us. Emmer emphasized that both the House and Senate have shown a willingness to negotiate appropriations, which hasn’t happened since 2019. It seems that with the Democrats so focused on keeping their party’s more, let’s say, revolutionary wing satisfied, they’ve lost sight of their duty to the American people. In the end, maybe it’s just about returning to the table and moving past the political theater. After all, nothing screams functional governance quite like returning to endless bipartisan conferencing, lining up bills like ducks in a row, and giving America a government that actually works—or at least doesn’t shut down every couple of months.
