Democrats Press on with Shutdown Threats… Even the Media Isn’t Buying Their Obstruction

Democrats are threatening to hold government funding hostage to score political points, ignoring the real-world consequences - barreling our country towards a government shutdown if Republicans don't adhere to their roughly $1.5 trillion wish list.

The American people want to keep their government open - and even the media isn't buying Democrats' political posturing.

Politico reports Democrats are using the shutdown as political leverage.

"It's Republicans who are pushing a 'clean' seven-week continuing resolution, which they say will buy time for more negotiations on full-year spending bills and possibly an extension of expiring health insurance subsidies. Democrats, meanwhile, wrote an alternative four-week punt that tacks on a laundry list of other demands, including a permanent extension of the insurance subsidies."

Senate Democrats are to blame as Congress heads toward a government shutdown, Bloomberg reports.

"Democrats, unable to slow Trump's agenda or even garner much media attention for their efforts, are under increasing pressure to risk a shutdown. Schumer in March backed off from a similar threat and allowed 10 Democrats to vote for a temporary spending bill. He is taking a tougher line this time, even as some of the same 10 senators refuse to say how they will vote in the end."

The New York Times reports Democrats are to blame for blocking the GOP bill to fund the government through November.

"Senate Democrats on Friday blocked Republicans' plan to keep federal funding flowing past a Sept. 30 deadline, demanding concessions on health care and other issues in exchange for their support for a measure needed to avert a government shutdown."

The Washington Examiner reports that Democrats are risking a shutdown in pursuit of their "Democratic wish list of other policies that are non-starters for the GOP."

"The Republican plan was passed by the House last week but failed to clear a 60-vote filibuster in the Senate. It includes largely extending current funding levels through Nov. 21 to allow appropriators more time to finish a bipartisan annual budget. A Democratic counterproposal would provide funding through October and extend the Obamacare insurance credits, along with a Democratic wish list of other policies that are non-starters for the GOP."

The Hill reports that Democrats say a shutdown is "necessary" to "send a message" to President Trump.

"Democratic senators say that unless Republicans scrap their plan to advance a 'clean' seven-week continuing resolution, they don't see any option other than defeating it as a way to send a 'message' to President Trump."

Democrats are going to battle over the government shutdown for a "fight with Trump," CNN reports.

"Still locked out of power in Washington, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his party are seizing on a fresh battle with President Donald Trump: a high-stakes gamble over this month's government funding deadline.

"Party leaders and rank-and-file are publicly projecting a united front, and many Democrats are truly eager for a fight with Trump. But behind the scenes, some are also worried about the party's exit strategy if Trump and the GOP refuse to cave. They fear that a shutdown could wreak havoc across the country - only for Democrats to ultimately yield to Republicans with nothing in exchange."

Democrats have no plan - only obstruction, as Politico outlines.

"Still, under tremendous pressure from their base to show that they are willing to fight President Donald Trump, Democrats are flirting with a politically risky shutdown without a firm exit plan or even an idea of what victory might look like."