Democrats Want to Avoid an Election Season Shutdown

“No one wants a shutdown in October,” said Sen. Patty Murray, Democrats’ top appropriator.

Sens. Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray

Democrats in both chambers bristled at the opening salvo in funding negotiations from the GOP last week. Mariam Zuhaib/AP

Democrats only have one major leverage point left against the Trump administration — and they’re not about to use it.

With Congress approaching a government funding cliff at the end of September, key Senate Democrats signaled they want to take the threat of a government shutdown off the table. Several told NOTUS this week that they are open to a short-term stopgap spending measure to get through the election.

“If we can come up with a good bipartisan [continuing resolution], that would be great,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told NOTUS.