Just kicking the can

Republican leadership just keeps kicking the can down the road on the most important job they have as leaders in Congress: funding the government.

We are 14 days away from a potential government shutdown, and Republican leaders have yet to negotiate with any of us Democrats. They’ve had 9 months to work on this funding bill. 9 months to come to the table and talk about how we fund critical programs that people rely on. 

Americans need a Congress that thinks about getting Social Security checks to people, about making sure people have affordable health care, and about making sure people who need help with affordable housing are able to get funds to help keep a roof over their heads. 

Instead, over the last 9 months, they’ve been craning their necks and bending over backwards to make sure that Donald Trump is happy instead of doing the jobs they were sent here to do.

It’s been reported that Speaker Johnson is more worried about Republicans’ weakening “their party’s hand in the shutdown showdown,” rather than actually funding the government. But that’s not how you govern. That’s not how you negotiate. And it’s certainly not how you figure out what’s best for the American people.

His first job, his most important job, is to find a way to fund the government and keep the vital programs that millions of Americans rely upon running. But at every step, he’s made it clear that his priorities are elsewhere. We need him focused on the people’s needs, not the President’s whims. 

While Speaker Johnson and Republican leaders are focused on their political games, I’m focused on making sure people are able to access what they need and keeping critical services up and running. 

This week is a big one. 

More soon, 

Jim McGovern