The government shutdown became official at midnight. (I guess this frees up space for me to write about cats! I know Professor Jacobson will love that!)
The continuing resolution needed 60 votes to pass.
The CR failed with a 55-45 vote. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voted no, along with most Democrats.
Democratic Sens. John Fetterman (PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), and Independent Sen. Angus King of Maine voted yes.
King caucuses with the Democrats.
We all knew Paul would vote no. If you look at the CR, either the Republican or the Democratic way, it would add trillions in debt. On September 29, he said “a shutdown is the least of our problems” if America doesn’t fix her debt problem.
(This libertarian does not mind a government shutdown…obviously…and agrees with Paul.)
I explained yesterday afternoon that health care is why the Democrats voted no.
Fetterman explained his vote:
It’s a sad day for our nation.Our government shuts down at midnight.I voted AYE to extend ACA tax credits because I support them—but I won’t vote for the chaos of shuttering our government.My vote was our country over my party.Together, we must find a better way forward.
Cortez Masto used her explanation to attack President Donald Trump and Republicans, saying they’re already harming Nevadans enough, and a shutdown would make it worse.
The senator stressed the need for a bipartisan solution.
King basically said the same thing, claiming a shutdown would give “Trump the ability to do far greater damage.”
I doubt many of us will notice the government has shut down. I guess I will, since I have to write about it every day! But I won’t miss the government.
This also made me smirk: Trump might fire a bunch of people.
Then again, if you’re considered unnecessary, then why does your job even exist? If the government doesn’t need your job to function, then it should not exist.
I’ve heard it’s illegal to fire people during a shutdown.
However, thousands of workers have threatened to resign.
Me: DO IT.
[Featured image via X]
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