Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is increasingly drawing heat from both sides of the aisle for his refusal to back a clean continuing resolution bill to keep the government funded into November.
Schumer, who in the past has opposed shutdowns, is being waylaid by Republicans as expected, but also from some Democratic circles and members of the media who are usually deferential to his party.
Three Senate Democrats joined most Republicans late Tuesday to support the stopgap funding measure, for instance.
That said, it’s not clear yet who will be “blamed” for allowing the partial shutdown, which took effect at midnight Wednesday.
Many of the Democratic Party’s left-wing faction were apoplectic at Schumer for providing Democratic votes in March to keep the government funded. So this time, Schumer is placating them, but that has led Republicans to label the current impasse the “Schumer Shutdown” — which appears to be catching on. And if it sticks, that will hurt his party more in the long run.
