Traditionally, voters blame Republicans for government shutdowns (a misnomer, since the government doesn’t actually shut down) regardless of the circumstances. Of course, for some of us, it isn’t blame, it’s credit.
Rasmussen asked likely voters whom they would blame if there is a government shutdown. Rasmussen headlines the plurality that would blame Congressional Democrats: “38% Would Blame Democrats for Shutdown.” But I am not sure that is the most salient takeaway, since 29% say they would blame Congressional Republicans, and another 21% would blame President Trump. So voters still mostly blame Republicans.
Meanwhile, the White House contemplates significant cuts in federal personnel if there is a shutdown:
The White House is telling agencies to prepare large-scale firings of federal workers if the government shuts down next week.
In a memo released Wednesday night, the Office of Management and Budget said agencies should consider a reduction in force for federal programs whose funding would lapse next week, is not otherwise funded and is “not consistent with the President’s priorities.” That would be a much more aggressive step than in previous shutdowns, when federal workers not deemed essential were furloughed but returned to their jobs once Congress approved government spending.
A reduction in force would not only lay off employees but eliminate their positions….
This is great. Until now, nonessential federal employees–a heavily Democratic constituency–have been the main beneficiaries of shutdowns. They have gotten a paid vacation, in effect. Trump’s plan is an excellent way to make Democrats pay a price for wantonly bringing some government activities to a halt.
What are the Democrats holding out for? The Associated Press spins the story their way:
The two leaders [Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries] have kept nearly all of their Democratic lawmakers united against a clean funding bill pushed by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans that would keep the federal government operating for seven more weeks, demanding immediate improvements to health care in exchange for their votes.
Of course, the Democrats aren’t holding out for “improvements to health care,” whatever that means. They are trying to reverse all of the Medicaid reforms, designed to reduce fraud and require an attempt to work by most able-bodied recipients, that were part of the Big Beautiful Bill. In Washington as well as at the state level, the Democratic Party is enthusiastically in favor of fraud.
