A small group of Democratic senators faced intense backlash from within their own party after voting Sunday night to advance legislation that would reopen the government.
According to The Associated Press, their decision — made on the 40th day of the shutdown — was immediately blasted as a “betrayal” and “pathetic” by prominent Democrats, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who said, “To my mind, this was a very, very bad vote.”
The eight Democrats, many of them retiring or former governors, joined Republicans to move forward on a compromise funding bill. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised the group for “putting principle over their personal politics.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who led negotiations, said the deal was “the only one on the table” and the “best chance to reopen the government.” She secured a promise from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., for a December vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, said he could no longer support prolonging the shutdown, which he blamed on Republicans but said was causing “too much pain for the American people.”
Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine joined the group late Sunday, calling the deal a “moratorium on mischief” that would prevent more mass layoffs of federal employees.
Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire cited growing food insecurity, saying she voted to reopen the government “so that we can get back to the work of helping Granite Staters.”
Maine’s Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the shutdown “would not produce” the desired outcome of extending ACA tax credits and called it a failed strategy.
Nevada Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto both emphasized the economic toll on their state, pointing to damage to tourism and food assistance programs. Cortez Masto said food bank lines were “the longest she’s seen since the pandemic.”
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania apologized to workers affected by the standoff. “I’m sorry to our military, SNAP recipients, gov workers, and Capitol Police who haven’t been paid in weeks,” he said. “It should’ve never come to this. This was a failure.”
