As a government shutdown looms, Republican senators plan to enjoy an all-expenses-paid getaway to a coastal resort in Georgia, reported The New Republic on Monday.
"Politico’s Playbook obtained an invitation for the National Republican Senatorial Committee’s fall 'meeting' at the five-star Sea Island Resort in Sea Island, Georgia, October 3–5," reported Malcolm Ferguson. "Their schedule will include buffet meals, pickleball, golf, shooting, and lawn games — all as the fates of millions of Americans hang in the balance."
According to the report, nightly rates at this resort, which will all be paid by the NRSC, can run from $495-599 — and GOP officials are refusing to comment on whether they plan to cancel this getaway if the shutdown moves forward, which looks increasingly likely.
"On Tuesday, September 30, Congress will either pass a destructive continuing resolution that will slash funding for health care and homeless shelters and increase spending on mass deportation and war — or shut down the government and give Trump an excuse to furlough or fire hundreds of thousands of federal workers," noted Ferguson, adding that in his opinion, "Pickleball really isn’t appropriate at a time like this."
All of this comes as President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly refused to entertain Democrats' demands to include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies as a condition of providing the votes in the Senate to prevent a shutdown, meets with Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill on Monday for negotiations.
Trump, for his part, has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the situation he is in, but is privately worried behind the scenes about whether a shutdown will damage him.
