Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) claimed on Sunday that Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is trying to enact a government shutdown as a means to help him “hang on to the U.S. Senate.”
Blackburn’s claim comes as the United States is gearing up for another Congressional election next year, with the Republican Party hoping to win the majority in the Senate and keep its majority in the House of Representatives. Blackburn stated that she believes that the one person who is “really pushing for a government shutdown” is Schumer so that he can remain as the Senate majority leader in 2025, which Blackburn claimed would be “very difficult” to achieve.
TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON’S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL TO BEGIN: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
“But what we do know is this: Senate Republicans, House Republicans are pushing forward to get these spending bills across the finish line, because this is how we take the power away from the White House,” Blackburn said. “And this is what we can do to get inflation under control.”
The Tennessee senator added that many U.S. residents have stated that inflation is greatly impacting their everyday life, such as its effect on the price of gas and the rising price of groceries. Blackburn claimed that addressing the issue of inflation is one way the Republican Party can “take that power from the White House,” which she said can be done through passing bills to address inflation before a government shutdown.
Schumer recently sent a “Dear Colleague” letter where he praised Appropriations Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chairwoman Susan Collins (R-ME), who helped to pass 12 bills to fund the government before leaving town at the end of July. In the letter, the New York senator warned that the Republican-controlled House should follow the Senate’s “incredible” lead and pass their appropriations bills “to avoid a harmful and unnecessary government shutdown.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“We cannot afford the brinkmanship or hostage-taking we saw from House Republicans earlier this year when they pushed our country to the brink of default to appease the most extreme members of their party,” his letter read.
The potential government shutdown could end up being a road bump for House Republicans and their attempt to impeach President Joe Biden, which many Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), have called for. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has stated he would not skip a floor vote to open an impeachment inquiry into Biden, which would need 218 votes to move the impeachment trial to the Senate.
