Republicans Criticize Democrats’ Strategy Amid Ongoing Shutdown

Senator John Curtis has voiced strong criticism of Senate Democrats, asserting that they lack a coherent strategy to navigate the ongoing government shutdown, which became the longest in U.S. history on October 1, 2023. Curtis, a Republican from Utah, emphasized that while his party has experience with shutdowns, often aimed at reducing government spending, Democrats have failed to provide the necessary votes to pass a temporary funding bill.

During a virtual town hall meeting, Curtis noted that Senate Democrats are primarily responsible for the current impasse. He stated that they have not supplied enough votes to reach the critical 60-vote threshold needed to advance legislation. Furthermore, he expressed frustration with what he perceives as Democrats’ unwillingness to negotiate, particularly regarding the extension of COVID-era health insurance subsidies. “Democrats are saying, ‘Hey, unless you not only just negotiate this, unless you do this, we’re not going to open the government back up,’” Curtis explained.

Curtis reflected on lessons learned from past shutdowns, suggesting that effective negotiation typically involves having a clear exit plan. He argued that Democrats, who have less experience with shutdowns, seem unaware of the importance of such planning. “They have no exit plan from here other than this off-ramp that Republicans … spend over a trillion dollars in subsidizing zero premiums for people at all levels,” Curtis added.

Since the shutdown began, Senate Republicans have attempted to advance a stopgap funding bill multiple times, but Curtis indicated that Democrats have consistently opposed these efforts. He suggested that passing even a partial funding measure would alleviate some pressure from the shutdown, an outcome that Democrats appear to resist. “How do you negotiate when you’re not asking for anything?” he questioned, emphasizing the lack of legislative priorities from Republicans in the current situation.

Curtis remains open to discussing health insurance premium subsidies, yet he cautions that government subsidies can drive up costs. “I think a much better conversation to have on health care would be: How do we make prices go down so we don’t have to subsidize it?” he remarked, underscoring a desire for more sustainable solutions.

Democrats have attempted to frame the shutdown in terms of its impact on Americans facing a potential increase in health insurance premiums should enhanced subsidies through the Affordable Care Act expire. However, the shutdown has broader implications, threatening essential services for vulnerable populations reliant on federal assistance, including nutritional programs.

In a related note, the administration of former President Donald Trump has petitioned a federal appeals court to block a prior ruling mandating the distribution of full monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Curtis urged the current administration to utilize available contingency funds to ensure that SNAP benefits are met during the shutdown. “I don’t know any of us that doesn’t want everything possible to be used to make sure we’re meeting those SNAP benefits,” he stated.

As the shutdown continues, Curtis warned that options to maintain federal assistance would dwindle. He reiterated that shutdowns are fundamentally detrimental, emphasizing the urgent need for a resolution to avoid further disruptions to essential services and federal worker paychecks.