U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Senate Majority Whip, addressed the Senate regarding the ongoing government shutdown, which he referred to as the “Schumer Shutdown.” He stated that two-thirds of Americans are opposed to the current shutdown and accused Democrats of demanding $1.5 trillion in permanent new spending to keep the government open for four weeks.
According to Barrasso, Democrats are seeking increased taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants while reducing funding for rural hospitals. He cited the example of a newly opened hospital in Pinedale, Wyoming, emphasizing its importance as the first hospital in that county and noting that the nearest alternative is 85 miles away.
Barrasso also criticized Democratic proposals to make COVID-related payments permanent, describing them as wasteful and lacking oversight. He said these payments were initially intended as temporary relief during the pandemic but now risk becoming a long-term expense without income limits or cost-sharing requirements.
The senator outlined that Republicans have proposed reopening the government for seven weeks at current funding levels, a measure already passed by the House with bipartisan support. He stated: “Republicans are proposing to reopen the government for seven weeks at current funding levels. The House already passed it. Republicans and Democrats voted for it. President Trump is ready to sign it. It takes 60 votes in the Senate to reopen the government.”
Barrasso argued that only a few more Democratic votes are needed in the Senate to pass a continuing resolution and reopen federal operations. He attributed responsibility for holding up progress to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other members of what he called “the radical socialist left,” naming Senators Sanders, Warren, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
He described various impacts of the shutdown on American families, including delayed appointments for veterans, unpaid military personnel and Border Patrol agents, halted wildfire prevention efforts, loss of access to nutrition programs for mothers, disruption of home healthcare services under Medicare or Medicaid, and suspension of new loans from the Small Business Administration.
Barrasso concluded: “We are about to vote today on a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government. Republicans are going to vote for it. Democrats have the opportunity to do the right thing for the American people.”
