Today’s Bloomberg editorial hits the nail on the head: after his address last night, President Trump still hasn’t given the American people a good reason to keep government shutdown while both parties discuss the best way to secure our border. As more and more Americans feel the impact of the Trump shutdown, public pressure on Republicans will only continue to grow to join Democrats in reopening government.Key excerpts:
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 9, 2019
A look at today’s headlines shows pressure is building on Senate McConnell to bring House-passed legislation to reopen government to the Floor for a vote while discussions on border security continue. As the harmful impact of the shutdown grows, members of his conference are speaking out. Take a look:
CNN: Cracks emerging among Senate Republicans as Murkowski calls for end to shutdown
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 8, 2019
Who’s going to tell Senator McConnell another GOP Senator is calling for an end to the Trump shutdown? Add Senator Lisa Murkowski to the growing list of Senate Republicans who want to reopen government. She is absolutely right — we can reopen government while we negotiate border security — that’s exactly what House Democrats are urging Senator McConnell to do.
https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/1082783896956223489
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 8, 2019
Wanted to be sure you saw this quote from Senator McConnell from 2014, when he said:
“Remember me? I am the guy that gets us out of shutdowns...It's a failed policy.”
Well, if Senator McConnell is the guy that gets us out of shutdowns and he still believes it’s a failed policy, then he should put the House-passed bills – which are Senate Republican bills, after all – on the Floor as soon as possible to reopen government. As the impact of the shutdown grows, so will the pressure on him to take action.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 8, 2019
President Trump calls this shutdown a “total winner,” but The Hill highlights how it’s quite the opposite according to the latest The Hill-HarrisX poll. Key excerpts:
“President Trump has said that shutting down the federal government in support of his demand for a southern border wall is a ‘total winner’ for him politically, but according to a new poll, the only people who oppose compromise on the issue are his strongest backers.”
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 8, 2019
Ahead of the President’s address, here’s a reminder of who the American people are holding responsible for the shutdown, courtesy of CNN:
“President Donald Trump is taking his case to the American people over why they should back him in the partial government shutdown.”
“…Trump is facing an uphill climb: polls show a majority of Americans blame him and Republicans for the shutdowns, and the majority have also consistently been opposed to his idea of a border wall with Mexico.”
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 8, 2019
In the “shocking to no one” category (except GOP leaders, apparently), Politico details today that Republicans are having a tough time convincing their Members that they should vote against taxpayers getting their refunds, ensuring families receive nutrition assistance, preventing families from being evicted, and allowing Americans to enjoy their national parks. Key excerpts from Politico:
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 7, 2019
In case there was *ANY* question as to who wants to reopen the government and who wants to hold the government hostage, look no further: Republicans, including Vice President Mike Pence, are actively whipping against legislation to reopen the government. There were 7 House Republicans who voted with House Democrats to reopen government last week – despite efforts by the White House to whip against it. As we bring additional bills reopening government to the Floor this week, Republicans will have to decide if they want taxpayers to get their refunds, children to receive their nutrition assistance, families to stay in their homes, and Americans to safely enjoy their national parks.
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 5, 2019
We know it’s only Saturday afternoon, but we are ready to declare the GOP quote of the weekend. This time — from Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. And we couldn’t agree more. Let’s reopen the government and we can continue to negotiate on border security. From the Washington Post:
PRESS STAFF BLOG: Jan 4, 2019
Statement coming soon from Mr. Hoyer… in the meantime, who is going to ask Senator McConnell when he leaves today’s meeting whether he is going to take up the bills we passed last night and reopen government or if he is going to keep federal workers furloughed/working without pay while Vice President Pence and senior Trump Administration officials get $10,000 raises?