House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) appeared on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal this week to address the ongoing government shutdown, attributing responsibility to Senate Democrats. Cole stated that House Republicans have passed a clean continuing resolution (CR) intended to keep the government open, ensure military pay, and maintain essential services. He emphasized that Senate Democrats had previously supported similar measures but have now rejected efforts to reopen the government four times in two weeks.
Cole said, "This is very much a Democratic shutdown, but it’s an inappropriate use of political power, and I don’t think it will end well for the Democrats. In the meantime, it does a lot of damage to the country that I hope they reflect on." He added, "It’s just not the right thing to do. Democrats have chosen to take a hostage and punish the American people."
He pointed specifically at Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer: "Senator Schumer is under enormous political pressure from his left wing. This time, he’s giving them what they want. They still have no clear exit strategy. They’re going to do a lot of damage. This is about Senator Schumer remaining popular in his district, avoiding a primary challenge, which has been threatened, and avoiding a leadership challenge. I don’t think you ought to hold the American people hostage, the entire country hostage, for your own political benefit, and I think that’s what’s happening right now."
Cole reiterated that House Republicans had completed their legislative work: "The House has passed a clean CR. We’ve done our work and we’re waiting on the Senate. The people holding up the Senate aren’t the Republicans over there. It’s not even all the Democrats. It’s Mr. Schumer and the majority of his caucus that decided a government shutdown is better for their political interests than actually making sure Americans get the services they need and deserve."
Reflecting on past shutdowns, Cole noted: "Let me make a prediction as a guy who’s seen [several shutdowns]: they never end well. We shut the government down over Obamacare; it’s still there. We shut the government down over building the wall; it didn’t get built. Democrats shut the government down over DACA, and they didn’t get the reforms they wanted. This isn’t going to work either. They’re just drawing it out for political purposes."
He continued by saying both parties have used shutdowns unsuccessfully in previous years: "As the shutdown goes on, [Democrats] will sober up and recognize that we shouldn’t hold day-to-day operation of government at risk to achieve objectives that don’t relate to normal appropriations process. Republicans and Democrats have both done that in past; it's never worked out."
Discussing consequences for federal workers and services during this period without funding approval from Congress or presidential signature—known as lapses in appropriations—Cole said: "Sooner or later I hope my friends in Senate on Democratic side recognize shutting down government is bad for workers; it’s bad for country; it’s an inappropriate tool in politics… The longer it goes on more damage will be done." He also highlighted impacts such as unpaid essential personnel including troops and air traffic controllers.
Cole addressed claims regarding negotiations with Democratic leadership: "This current CR is one we asked Democrats what they need—they said clean continuing resolution… short-term duration—we gave them what they asked for—and all of sudden their leadership decided drop things middle negotiations nothing do with appropriations." He concluded by stating public perception would soon identify those responsible: "It’s [Minority] Leader Schumer and bulk his caucus who are shutting down government… It won’t take American people long figure out."
