Nevada senators split on funding bill to avert shutdown

Lights shine inside the U.S. Capitol Building as night falls on Jan. 21, 2018, in Washington. Photo by J. David Ake / AP, file

Nevada U.S. Sen. Democrats Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto are expected to split their votes on a GOP-constructed spending measure later today as Congress has until 11:59 p.m. EST to come to an agreement or face a government shutdown.

The continuing resolution, often referred to as a “CR,” provides appropriations for federal agencies and extends programs that would have otherwise expired until the end of September. The bill passed the U.S. House Tuesday, with all Nevada House Democrats voting against it and the state’s lone Republican representative in support. 

Democrats were initially pushing for a 30-day stopgap instead of the 6-month measure House Republicans passed; both congressional chambers would need to agree to avert shutdown. The House is out of session with several members already returning to their home districts. 

Rosen said she was striking down the bill because it provides President Donald Trump and political ally Elon Musk “unprecedented power” for withholding funding. 

Trump’s administration attempted to freeze federal funding for certain congressionally-approved programs and has faced multiple ongoing legal battles as a result.  

“I cannot vote for an irresponsible and hyper-partisan bill that gives Trump and Musk even more power to hurt millions of Americans all while Congressional Republicans continue to push for cuts to Medicaid to pay for more tax breaks for the ultra-rich and giant corporations,” Rosen said in a statement. “Funding the government requires actually working together across party lines to find common ground, and the Republicans in power failed to do so.”

Rosen and Cortez Masto seldom split their votes. 

But for Cortez Masto, a shutdown is what would give Trump and Musk the power. She said she would support the stopgap measure to avert government closure, adding concern about the consequences for essential federal employees who would be obligated to work without pay during that period. 

“This was not an easy decision,” Cortez Masto said in a statement. “I’m outraged by the reckless actions of President Trump, Elon Musk, and Republicans in control of Congress, so I refuse to hand them a shutdown where they would have free reign to cause more chaos and harm.”

The longest government shutdown was 35 days during the first Trump administration, forcing some government employees to use personal time off instead of reporting to work. 

Congress narrowly avoided a shutdown through a short-term bill in December, which was signed by then-President Joe Biden with the understanding that March would be time for a more permanent resolution. 

Cortez Masto isn’t alone in supporting the proposal.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., broke from his party Thursday night when he announced he would be voting for the continuing resolution that passed in the House. 

“Congratulations to Chuck Schumer for doing the right thing — Took “guts” and courage,” Trump posted online after Schumer announced his decision. “The big Tax Cuts, L.A. fire fix, Debt Ceiling Bill, and so much more, is coming. We should all work together on that very dangerous situation.” 

The House’s vote passed with 217-213 votes, with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., as the only Republican to oppose. Trump posted about Massie online before and after the vote, calling for him to be challenged in his next election. 

“HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him,” Trump wrote. “He’s just another GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble, and not worth the fight.”