Please let this be true! According to Axios, Senate Democrats HAVE THE VOTES to filibuster & block the QOP “slush fund” continuing resolution! They will force Republicans to own the shutdown resulting from their extremism:
This raises the chances of a government shutdown this weekend. Democrats are in the unusual position of being willing to risk a shutdown to negotiate a better deal with Republicans.
- "Democrats had nothing to do with this bill. And we want an opportunity to get an amendment vote or two. So that's what we are insisting on to vote for cloture," Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) told reporters after the meeting.
- "There are not the votes right now to pass it," Kaine said.
Also from The Hill, Dems are refusing to vote for the current bill but pushing for a 30-day continuing resolution to allow time for actual bipartisan negotiations:
“I need everyone to understand: The choice absolutely is not dumpster fire or shut down. I should know: I introduced another option [Tuesday]. It’s a short-term CR that would give us time to finish doing our job and negotiate bipartisan, full-year bills,” Murray said on the Senate floor.
I’ve generally been defending Democrats from those saying “do more”, but even I was getting nervous that Senate Democrats would cave & blow their first actual opportunity to use their leverage. So this is extremely heartening to hear, and I'm sure they wouldn’t be doing this without a serious plan to counter the QOP & beltway narrative that is surely coming (about how Dems caused the shutdown, blah blah blah). I hope this holds true, and maybe this is what the Democrats need to break through the corporate media BS, disinformation & get the country to pay attention to what Trump, Musk, etc. are doing.
If this does hold, then I applaud House & Senate Democrats for presenting a united front in this crucial battle where, unlike Senate confirmations, Democrats actually have an ability to affect the outcome. I can only hope for an outpouring of grassroots support to thank Dems & encourage them to continue steeling their spines for the battles ahead.
*Edited first paragraph for clarity. Originally stated: “Senate Democrats DO NOT have the votes to break a filibuster of the QOP “slush fund”. h/t bctdcfd
