Quo Vadis, Democrats?

[garbon]

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5704987-schumer-opposes-dhs-bill/

The risk of a partial government shutdown at the end of January grew more likely Saturday after Senate Democrats vowed to block a funding package over a fatal Minneapolis shooting involving federal law enforcement authorities.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) on Saturday evening said that Democrats will block a major government funding package if it includes money for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), calling the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis "appalling."

"What's happening in Minnesota is appalling — and unacceptable in any American city," Schumer said in a statement.

"Democrats will not provide the votes to proceed to the appropriations bill if the DHS funding bill is included," he warned.

Schumer blasted Senate and House Republicans for failing to include language in the Homeland Security spending bill to put constraints on ICE officers, who have been accused of using excessive force against protesters in Minneapolis.

He issued his remarks after law enforcement officials identified Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and Minneapolis resident, as the man who was shot and killed by federal agents during an ICE operation Saturday morning.

"Democrats sought common sense reforms in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill but because of Republicans' refusal to stand up to President Trump, the DHS bill is woefully inadequate to rein in the abuses of ICE. I will vote no," Schumer said.

Schumer's statement came after liberal Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who is viewed as a potential primary challenger to Schumer in 2028, called on Senate Democrats to block ICE funding.

"Americans are being killed in the street by their government. Our Constitution is being shredded and our rights are dissolving. Resist. Senate Democrats should block ICE funding this week. Activate the National Guard. We can and must stop this," she said.

She spoke out against ICE funding after Pretti's fatal shooting by a Border Patrol Agent.

Senate Democrats are now scheduled to hold a caucus-wide conference call at 6 p.m. on Sunday to discuss their strategy for how to handle the government funding bills that need to pass by Jan. 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown.

Schumer's new statement marks a significant shift in sentiment among senior Senate Democrats, who signaled last week that a six-bill appropriations package passed by the House would likely to pass the upper chamber by the Jan. 30 funding deadline.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the most senior member of the Senate Democratic caucus, said in a statement last week that blocking funding for DHS would have little impact on ICE operations.

"ICE must be reined in, and unfortunately, neither a CR nor a shutdown would do anything to restrain it, because, thanks to Republicans, ICE is now sitting on a massive slush fund it can tap whether or not we pass a funding bill," Murray said, referring to tens of billions of dollars allocated to ICE in the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act that Trump signed into law last year.

Murray argued that the "suggestion that a shutdown in this moment might curb the lawlessness of this administration is not rooted in reality."

...

I don't get this entirely. What's her alternate plan, continue to issue strongly worded press releases and get pork for her constiuents?

https://www.murray.senate.gov/category/press-releases/

[Tonitrus]

She is one of the geriatric class of Democrat Senators...well past time to have retired.  Especially as WA has not been at risk of electing a GOP Senator for over 20 years.