Republicans, Democrats agree to disagree on who’s to blame for federal government shutdown

• LNP|LancasterOnline Staff
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In the war of words over who’s to blame for the federal government shutdown, Republicans agree Democrats are the culprits. 

“Democrats flatly rejected a short-term continuation of government funding at the very same spending levels they already voted for just months ago,” said Lancaster County’s U.S. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, in a statement issued Tuesday. (Smucker also released a letter he sent to the House administrative officer asking that his pay be withheld until the budget impasse ends.)

Democrats, for their part, say they are the minority party in Congress, so if Republicans want to pass their budget, they should be able to do it without their help.

Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, who represents much of Montgomery County and a portion of Berks County, put out a statement saying the budget standoff is the result of Republicans’ “failure to lead.” 

“It is their duty to govern and craft a budget that supports our nation’s economic, physical, mental and civic health,” Dean said, before calling it “appalling” that House Republicans “are nowhere to be seen, at home or vacation.”

The policy matters dividing the two parties are much more complex, with Republicans pushing for a short-term budget to keep the government open while Congress finishes work on appropriations bills funding different agencies. Democrats say they are fighting to restore subsidies for Obamacare participants, without which many of these policyholders would see significant premium increases in 2026.

How and when the two sides cut a deal to reopen the government is anyone’s guess. The longest government shutdown in American history occurred during President Donald Trump’s first administration, when a dispute over funding for the border wall kept a final deal from being passed for 34 days between December 2018 and January 2019.

Shutdowns occurred 19 other times since 1976.

Country over party

“It’s a sad day for our nation. Our government shuts down at midnight,” U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said in a statement issued Tuesday night. “I voted AYE to extend ACA tax credits because I support them—but I won’t vote for the chaos of shuttering our government. My vote was for our country over my party. Together, we must find a better way forward.”

Fetterman’s reference to ACA tax credits is about his vote for Senate Democrats’ alternative budget plan, which would have kept Obamacare subsidies in place. After that failed to pass, Fetterman voted for Republicans’ proposal to keep the government running for another seven weeks while negotiations could continue.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County made a similar argument in a Tuesday evening statement. 

“I always have—and I always will—vote to keep the government open and avoid government shutdowns,” Fitzpatrick said. “I have voted this way under both Democrat and Republican Presidents. I have voted this way under both Democrat and Republican Congresses.”

But it’s lawmakers’ responsibility to keep the government open, he said. “Collaboration and passage of the other policy provisions will happen… . But this collaboration must take place when the government is fully funded and open, not shut down.”

Other lawmakers

Below are comments from other Pennsylvania lawmakers about the current standoff:

U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R

“This is terrible for America. It’s going to put a pause on spending that supports basic services – our military, our border patrol, our key response units across our country. And this is essentially because the Democrats have tried to hold keeping the government open hostage to $1 trillion of new spending.”

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Dauphin, Cumberland and York

“The House did its work. We passed a funding bill and sent it to the Senate with ample time before the funding deadline — period.”

U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Berks, Lebanon and counties north to New York border

“Republicans passed a clean, short-term CR—no new spending, to allow time to finish our appropriations bills. It’s unacceptable to put veterans, seniors, and working families at risk just to score political points. House Republicans are standing firm to protect taxpayers and keep America on track.”

U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-Cambria, Perry and counties south to Maryland border

“Senate Dems are choosing a $1.5T left-wing spending wish list over keeping our gov’t open, paying our service members, and maintaining healthcare for our seniors. This is unacceptable.”