Dems Ignore Bureaucrats' Pleas To End Shutdown

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal workers union, is urging Congress to pass a clean continuing resolution to end the ongoing federal government shutdown, which is on track to become the longest in U.S. history. Despite the union's calls, some Democrats have publicly dismissed the urgency of the situation. AFGE has contributed significantly to the campaigns of House Democrats facing challenging elections, raising questions about their commitment to federal workers' welfare.

As the shutdown approaches its one-month mark, the impact on federal employees is becoming increasingly apparent, with many missing paychecks. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin acknowledged the importance of federal workers to the Democratic Party, stating, "They’ve been our friends and we’ve worked with them over the years," while still maintaining that his colleagues would continue their current strategy.

Maine Representative Jared Golden, who is facing a competitive re-election bid, has expressed discomfort with the Democratic strategy surrounding the shutdown. Golden, the only Democrat to vote for a Republican continuing resolution last month, criticized his party for using the shutdown as leverage for their healthcare agenda. "I’m just uncomfortable lying about the strategy to win and shutting down the government. We’ve never been the party that does that," he told the Wall Street Journal.

The AFGE has invested over $11,000 in the campaign of New York Representative Thomas Suozzi, who has also been targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee due to his vulnerability in the upcoming elections. In total, 20 Democratic incumbents have received support from the AFGE, raising concerns about their alignment with the union's interests amid the shutdown.

Suozzi warned that the ongoing shutdown would have severe consequences for his constituents, including federal workers missing paychecks and small businesses waiting on federal contracts. He noted that the impact would be "real and painful," highlighting the disconnect between the Democratic leadership's actions and the needs of their constituents.

Despite public support for union rights, some Democratic representatives, including Derek Tran of California, have voted in favor of the shutdown. Tran, who recently attended a rally in support of workers' rights, stated, "It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship," echoing the sentiments of AFGE President Everett Kelley.

Kelley criticized the situation, stating, "When the folks who serve this country are standing in line for food banks after missing a second paycheck because of this shutdown, they aren’t looking for partisan spin. They’re looking for the wages they earned. The fact that they’re being cheated out of it is a national disgrace."

The ongoing shutdown has prompted criticism from Republican leaders, who argue that Democrats are prioritizing political agendas over the welfare of federal workers. National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Mike Marinella stated, "Democrats talk a big game about standing with workers, but when the cameras are off, they side with the radicals over American families. Republicans voted to pay our federal workers. Democrats voted to punish them. That’s political cruelty, plain and simple."

As the situation unfolds, the pressure is mounting on Democrats to address the concerns of federal workers and find a resolution to the shutdown. With the midterm elections approaching, the implications of their decisions could have lasting effects on their political futures and the well-being of their constituents.