ICYMI: Lankford Calls Out Democrats for Keeping the Government Shut Down
“What A Ridiculous Waste Of Time. What A Painful, Ridiculous Waste Of Time For The Nation.”
WASHINGTON, DC — US Senator James Lankford (R-OK) took to the Senate floor yesterday to call out Democrats for prolonging the government shutdown, now in its eighth day, and urged the Senate to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.
“We’re seven days deep into a government shutdown. What a ridiculous waste of time. What a painful, ridiculous waste of time for the nation. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is,” said Lankford. “Because I’ve been here long enough now to be able to see what the negotiations look like. Let me tell you what it has looked like for the last few years, even. Let’s go back just through the Biden administration – every single end of September, as we approached the deadline for government funding, this body had a conversation: Do we want to remain open and continue negotiating, or do we want to shut down?
“Every single time during the Biden administration, this body said it’s harmful to the American people and to federal workers to have a shutdown. Let’s keep things open and continue to be able to negotiate. So the end of every September, which is the end of our fiscal year, this body voted to keep the government open and to continue to negotiate.
“But what happens when the Trump administration comes? Well, during the Trump administration, Democrats have determined that they want to show they’re fighting and raging, that they’re the resistance against President Trump. And so, they determined the best way to do that is just to be able to shut the government down. The same effect happens for federal workers. The same effect happens for the nation. We have the same opinion across the world as the entire world looks at the United States of America, the greatest nation in the world, which is apparently not able to keep its government open, because my Democratic colleagues have determined they want to show that they are the resistance,” Lankford continued.
You can watch his full remarks on the Senate floor HERE.
Background
Last month, Lankford reintroduced the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, first proposed in 2019, to permanently end shutdowns and protect federal workers and the American people. The bill keeps the government open with automatic 14-day continuing resolutions and requires Members of Congress to stay in Washington until all appropriations bills are passed. It also prohibits official and campaign-funded travel, recess longer than 23 hours, and consideration of unrelated legislation until Congress completes its work.
You can also watch his latest social media video highlighting Democrats’ double standard on shutdowns HERE. Catch his recent interviews on Newsmax, BloombergTV, and Fox News Radio.
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