Pro-Shutdown Democrat Blames GOP When Her State’s Main Industry Begs For Government To Reopen

Democratic Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen is continuing to embrace Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s shutdown strategy despite major tourism-related businesses and hotels in her state begging for relief.

Rosen blamed Republicans for the 34-day shutdown when pressed about nearly 500 travel industry-related groups — including 12 located in Nevada — calling on Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government. The Nevada Democrat has voted against a bipartisan clean CR to fund the government on 13 separate occasions since the end of September.

“They need to call John Thune and tell him to come talk to us, because the President, Mike Johnson and Senator Thune are closing this government down,” Rosen told the DCNF on Monday. “They’re refusing to work with us to get it back open. It’s their shutdown.”

Rosen’s continued support for Schumer’s hardball tactics comes as federal employees, including air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, are going without pay during the shutdown and flight delays are becoming commonplace at U.S. airports due to staffing shortages.

More than 5,000 domestic flights experienced delays on Sunday alone with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy forecasting difficult travel conditions this week as the shutdown drags on.

Tourism giants, including MGM Resorts International, Caesars Entertainment, The Venetian and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority were among the Nevada signatories warning of “devastating” economic consequences if the shutdown continues into the holiday travel season.

The tourism and hospitality industry is Nevada’s largest employer given Las Vegas’ massive entertainment market.