Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Wednesday of yielding to his party’s most radical liberal wing during the ongoing government shutdown fight. The Senate failed for the sixth time to advance funding bills to reopen the government as Republicans and Democrats continued to blame one another for the shutdown entering its second week.
During an appearance on “The Record With Greta Van Susteren,” Barrasso claimed Democrats were playing “a dangerous game” that was harming Americans. “We continue to talk to a number of Democrats,” Barrasso said when asked about movement from the left to join the GOP in opening the government. “Democrats are playing a dangerous game, and people are getting hurt in the process.”
Barrasso cited a Washington Post editorial with the subtitle “Democratic leaders play a dangerous game,” stating that military members were not being paid and programs for women, infants, and children were at risk. “All of those things are real people getting hurt because the Democrats will not do now what they did 13 times when Joe Biden was president, which is to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government at current levels,” he said.
He accused Schumer of ceding control to his party’s most liberal members, alleging that “Chuck Schumer has essentially set up a war room” and handed power to the radical wing. Barrasso claimed Democrats pressured Schumer to shut down the government to protect their leadership from challenges like a primary by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He also criticized New York’s political direction, referencing Zohran Mamdani, a Marxist socialist nominated for mayor.
Barrasso urged Democrats to support the GOP measure, which passed the House but failed in the Senate by a 54-45 vote on Wednesday. “We need to get the votes to open the government,” he said. “People are hurting, and it’s incumbent upon the Democrats now to open the government so more damage isn’t done.”
