Mainstream Democrats are starting to feel the pressure from citizens who use the federal services that soon won't be operating due to the shutdown, and hopefully, they will defy their party leadership and vote to open up the government this coming week, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, told Newsmax on Wednesday.
Ernst, who serves on the Armed Services Committee, said on "Wake Up America" that due to the "Schumer shutdown," there are also service members who won't be getting their paychecks once the temporary funds that have been paying them so far run out.
Ernst pointed out that "many of those young families that serve in our great military also rely on SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]" and soon won't be able to get those funds.
"This has dire consequences, and it's resting on the shoulders of one man, and that man is [Senate Minority Leader] Chuck Schumer [D-N.Y.]"
Ernst said that the shutdown "has been so devastating for federal government employees and their families."
"And there are Democrats, those that are more toward the middle, they are very concerned about these issues."
She added, "I do think that there are cracks that are coming about in the Democratic caucuses, and hopefully, those members will find a way to vote to open the government in this coming week. Because this is untenable."
"The Schumer shenanigans should not go on any longer."
Ernst emphasized, "I am just calling on the Democrats: Let's end this; let's find a way forward; let's vote to reopen the government."
"We just saw the largest federal government union call for the Democrats to reopen the government with a clean continuing resolution. I mean it can't be more clear than that."
"Who cares about what [Schumer] thinks and his political career," she said.
"It shouldn't be about politics. It should be about the American people."
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Brian Freeman ✉
Brian Freeman, a Newsmax writer based in Israel, has more than three decades writing and editing about culture and politics for newspapers, online and television.
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