Dem Sen Calls Shutdown ‘A Nightmare’ But Refuses To Reopen Government

Senate Democrats are acknowledging the harm their own constituents could face during a prolonged shutdown, but are increasingly dug in against reopening the government until their $1.5 trillion in spending demands are met.

Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy told reporters that shutdowns are a “nightmare” and are impacting his constituents, but sought to pin the blame on Republicans as the shutdown entered its seven-day mark on Tuesday. Murphy and the majority of Senate Democrats have repeatedly tanked a bipartisan spending bill to fund the government — and are showing little indication they will reverse course.

“Having been through shutdowns before, they’re a nightmare,” Murphy said. “I’m concerned about all the impacts of a shutdown.”

“There’s impacts on the military. There’s impacts on families who send their kids to Head Start . There’s impacts on air traffic in this country,” Murphy continued. “But I mean, how on earth does Mike Johnson say anything with a straight face right now when he won’t even bring his members here to vote on anything?”

Republicans, conversely, have nearly unanimously voted to avert a funding lapse since the shutdown began on Oct. 1.

Johnson repeatedly defended his move to adjourn the House during the shutdown, arguing that his chamber did its job when it passed a clean funding bill in September to avert a funding lapse. Murphy has voted against that measure five times in the Senate, in sharp contrast to three members of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s caucus, who have routinely crossed party lines to fund the government.

A long-term shutdown is expected to inflict far-reaching consequences for Americans who receive a federal paycheck or depend on some federal-run programs.