Senate Democrats remained with tight lips on Thursday after snuggling at closed doors on the government’s financing deadline that is quick, creating a high perspective for a closure for the end of the day on Friday.
“What happens in Caucus, stays in Caucus,” said Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin shy when she left weekly lunch.
“Ask someone else,” complained Democratic Senator Cory Booker.
“I have no comment,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren.
The senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, only told reporters when he left the meeting: “You will hear from me soon.”
The senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, leaves the democratic caucus lunch at the United States Capitol on March 13, 2025 in Washington.
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
Uncertainty one day before a possible closure leaves at least some optimism to avoid a closure, but so far only Democratic senator John Fetterman has pointed out that he will vote to maintain the open government.
Fetterman insisted that he will not succumb to the position he sees of the party leaders after urging Republicans to maintain the open government in the past when the Democrats controlled the upper chamber.
“Never, never, never closed the government,” Fetterman told reporters at Capitol on Thursday afternoon. “Democrat, Republican, independent, anyone. Never close the government. That is one of our main responsibilities.”
Fetterman described the “spicy” political pressure, telling journalists to remain “consistent” in their belief of principles of not voting for a closure.
Fetterman acknowledged that the Republicans “are daring” the Democrats to close the government, but the first -year Democrat worried that workers and people who depend on federal services are those who “really will hurt.”
Now that the Republicans cleared their bill through the Chamber, Fetterman said he believes the battle is over.
Fetterman said that the only time Democrats have influence is whether Republicans need votes in the camera.
“The Republican party delivered, and that did this effectively. And that forces us to say:” Are you going to close to the government or will you vote for a defective CR? “And now for me, I refuse to close the government.”
Senator John Fetterman speaks with journalists outside the camera during a vote at the Capitol in Washington, on March 13, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Schumer said Wednesday that Senate Democrats would not provide the necessary votes for Republicans to advance the agreement approved by the Chamber to finance the Government until September. Instead, Schumer proposed a one -month stop measure to allow more time for appropriators to negotiate and complete the financing invoices of the whole year.
Meanwhile, Republicans and the White House are preventively pointing to the finger to the Democrats if a closure occurs.
“If it closes, it is purely in the Democrats,” said President Donald Trump when he took reports from reporters while meeting with NATO general secretary Mark Rutte in the Oval office on Thursday.
Trump was asked if he gets in negotiating with the Democrats and said he would do it if the Republicans requested: “If they need me, I am there 100%.”
