Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) implied Sunday that he would be open to shutting down the government to block the GOP's budget demands — joining others eager to thwart the GOP by refusing to work with them.
Their Senate leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), however, undercut that on Monday when he indicated Democrats would use their votes to help "steady the ship."
“In a few weeks, the Republicans are going to try to figure out how they move forward, and they have, for the last two years, needed Democratic votes for every single continuing resolution, and they should not count on that this time,” Kim said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
For the past year, lawmakers have passed a continuing resolution that temporarily funds the government until a new budget bill can be passed.
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Salon.com pointed to Schumer saying instead, "Democrats stand ready" to help avoid a government telling colleagues their caucus "will use our votes to help steady the ship."
Existing funding ends March 14.
"Congressional Republicans, despite their bluster, know full well that governing requires bipartisan negotiation and cooperation," Schumer wrote. "Of course, legislation in the Senate requires 60 votes and Senate Democrats will use our votes to help steady the ship for the American people in these turbulent times. It is incumbent on responsible Republicans to get serious and work in a bipartisan fashion to avoid a Trump Shutdown."
Salon also pointed out that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is another Democrat eager to obstruct the GOP.
"We shouldn't give them a single damn vote until we have demands met," she told Business Insider. "If they want to pass massive cuts at these agencies, they're going to have to do it on their own."