Democratic Representative Janelle Bynum of Oregon found herself in a challenging position on Thursday when she was unable to articulate her reasons for opposing a clean continuing resolution (CR) that her party had previously endorsed to prevent a government shutdown.
Despite the absence of policy changes or conditions in the Republican-backed funding bill, Bynum contested its characterization as a clean CR. During an appearance on CSPANs The Washington Journal, she insisted that she does not engage in political gamesmanship, alleging that Republicans had inserted unspecified "extra stuff" into the legislation.
"I dont play politics. I want a clean bill that focuses on the American people and make sure kids have a full belly and you know all of the clean this, clean that. Americans dont understand that. They know if they have their benefits or not. So, put a bill on the table, make sure its very pure and clean as they like to say, and it doesnt have a whole lot of fluff in it. Im not here for games, I just want to make sure kids get fed," Bynum stated.
According to the Daily Caller, the host of the program clarified that Republicans had indeed proposed a clean CR. Bynum, however, remained steadfast in her disagreement, asserting, "I disagree with your characterization and want to make sure that were very clear about what Republicans have been doing. Any bill that theyve put forth, theyve always had some extra stuff to it. Theres always been a poison pill to it. So I disagree with your characterization."
Despite her claims, Bynum was unable to specify what "fluff" was allegedly included in the CR or how the funding bill failed to meet the criteria of being clean.
As the government shutdown loomed on October 1, Democrats faced difficulties in identifying specific objections to the CR, even as they pledged to oppose it. Prominent Democratic Senators such as Adam Schiff of California, Raphael Warnock of Georgia, and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, among others, struggled to pinpoint particular provisions they opposed during discussions with the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Their primary contention was the CR's omission of extensions for Biden-era subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are nearing expiration. House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested that Congress could address these tax credit extensions once government funding was secured.
Interestingly, not all Democrats were aligned in their approach. Senators John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, and Independent Senator Angus King, who aligns with the Democrats, voted in favor of keeping the government operational. On the other hand, Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky supported the shutdown, citing the absence of spending cuts as his rationale.
In the aftermath of the shutdown, Republicans have experienced a boost in approval ratings, including among independent voters. CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten disclosed that the overall approval rating for Republicans increased by two points, with a five-point rise specifically for congressional Republicans.
This shift in public sentiment underscores the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing political discourse surrounding government funding and fiscal responsibility.
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