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Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) in a Monday interview explained why he didn’t think Democrats should back the GOP funding measure that would prevent a government shutdown on Wednesday, saying he did not “want to be a consignee to this tyranny” from the government.
“Why would we want to continue to be, you know, cosignees on this madness that is hurting our friends and neighbors and making us look less and less like America?” Swalwell told CNN’s Kate Bouldan on “CNN News Central.”
“This is a Republican-run government. They have the White House, the House and the Senate. They’ve had plenty of months to put forward legislation where they could work with us to get this passed. They waited till the very last minute,” he added. “Donald Trump set a meeting, canceled a meeting, reset a meeting. This is entirely on them. And as I said, I don’t want to be a cosignee to this tyranny.”
The House has approved a funding measure that would keep the government open through much of November. That bill will need 60 votes in the Senate to be approved, which would require at least seven Democrats top back it if every Republican voted for it.
At least one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), is expected to oppose the legislation, which is known as a “clean” continuing resolution because it would essentially just extend existing funding.
Democrats are opposed to the measure because they want something to be done about subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that are set to expire at the end of the year. Democratic leaders are also facing pressure to fight back at the Trump administration after some senators voted for a GOP funding measure earlier this year that kept the government operating.
The Trump administration has sought to raise the pressure on Democrats.
On Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned that government layoffs are on their way if Democrats don’t stop a shutdown by Tuesday, days after Trump’s budget office ordered agencies to get ready for mass firings.
“There will be if Democrats don’t keep the government open,” Leavitt said when questioned if there are going to be layoffs due to a shutdown.
Trump is expected to meet with the four top leaders in Congress at the White House Monday. The top two congressional Democrats, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), have both said they are hopeful they can stop the looming shutdown.
“There is nothing to negotiate when you have a clean CR [continuing resolution],” Leavitt said Monday. “We are nearing a government shutdown; we are nearing a funding deadline. The president wants to make this deadline. He wants to keep this government open.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
