California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has called on Senate Democrats “to stand up and do the right thing” and vote no on the GOP-backed stop-gap bill that would avert a looming government shutdown.
“Passing this bill would give Republicans 6 months to consolidate power in the Executive branch and wreak havoc on our country. They are already threatening social security and Medicare. Gutting the Department of Education. Firing veterans. Vandalizing basic environmental protections. This will only allow them to continue that,” he said Friday in a post on the social platform X.
“They will go on to cut funding and punish states that don’t do their bidding. There’s still time to do the right thing. VOTE NO,” he added.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D), who like Newsom is seen as a prospective presidential candidate for Democrats, also urged his party to oppose the measure.
“Republicans in Congress have abdicated their responsibility to critically evaluate the damage Donald Trump is doing to critical services the American people need. Democrats have the ability to force bipartisanship and bring the two sides together to make a budget that reflects priorities we all ought to share,” he said in a statement Friday.
Pritzker called Republicans “reckless,” accusing them of playing politics with people’s livelihood.
“Veterans will have trouble getting healthcare. Workers will lose jobs when infrastructure projects grind to a halt. Preschools will lose teachers and parents will be left without childcare. Make no mistake: people will suffer the consequences of their negligence,” he said.
“Democrats have the power to stop the cessation of power to Donald Trump and Elon Musk and they should use it. I urge a no vote on the Continuing Resolution,” Pritzker added.
The House approved the spending measure earlier this week, but just one House Democrat supported it.
In the Senate, progressive Democrats have been calling on their party to oppose the measure, but Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Thursday evening said he would back the measure. Schumer said he though the GOP bill was bad legislation but that a shutdown would be worse.
It appeared that 10 Senate Democrats including Schumer would back the measure, which would give the legislation more than the 60 votes needed for passage.