Sen. Andy Kim says he's open to shutting down the government if Trump continues dismantling agencies

[Wicked Blue]

Source: NBC

Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., indicated Sunday that he is open to working with other Democrats to deny Republicans the votes necessary to keep the government funded ahead of a key deadline next month if the Trump administration continues reshaping federal agencies and programs.

“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 in an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” A continuing resolution, or CR, is usually a bill that temporarily funds the government at previous levels until a new budget is agreed upon.

Kim added that he’d favor working against Republicans in this way if the Trump administration continues gutting government agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Department of Education the way it has in the first few weeks of President Donald Trump’s term.

“They are simply trying to dismantle the government,” Kim told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker. “So yes, look, if we have to take steps to be able to hold them accountable, use the leverage that we have to force it, I cannot support efforts that will continue this lawlessness that we’re seeing when it comes to this administration’s actions.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/andy-kim-open-to-government-shutdown-trump-rcna191371

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I hope the email I sent him two weeks ago helped get him moving.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. It is hard to see there not being a government shutdown

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Unless they do another CR to stall

(saw that option pop up in an article when a GOPer was asked about it)

[Wiz Imp]

14. Would Trump sign a CR? Somehow, I doubt it.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. Well then the GOP would take the blame for "shutting down the government"

and the media will dust off the old "But the Naaaaatttttiiiioooonnnaaaalllll Paaaaaarrrrrrrkkkkkksssssss!!!1!!!!111!!".

[Wiz Imp]

22. Trump's already messing with the National Parks

https://www.npca.org/articles/6614-five-ways-president-trump-s-executive-orders-could-harm-national-parks

Five Ways President Trump’s Executive Orders Could Harm National Parks

I don't think Democrats have to worry about backlash to shutting things down. They just need to frame it as reining in Musk who is already super unpopular and sinking further every day. The public as a whole is strongly opposed to what he is doing.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. But as you have seen over the decades

the media likes to trot out these types of pics -



And they'll particularly aim the cameras at NPS Park Rangers or NPS cops (like the guy below) putting up barriers and whatnot -



It doesn't matter. We don't control "the media" and will have to work around it.

And in the case of shutdowns, as has happened in the past - it's only "some" because they tend to insist that "those who are involved in 'health and safety' must still work" (although the reality of that is that the upper managers will determine some % of staff who would do that and the rest would be furloughed). Fortunately a law was put in place to make sure that feds who were furloughed (and those who worked) will still get paid.

[Lonestarblue]

2. Good idea. Then give media interviews, go on Fox, and hold town halls explaining that it is to stop Musk.

The connection between Musk spending $277 million to buy Trump and then Trump giving him the freedom to ransack the government needs to be made over and over.

[Think. Again.]

4. ⬆⬆⬆THIS⬆⬆⬆

[riversedge]

3. Reluctantly, I say yes. Generally, essential

services are left open--but who knows what will happen --especially with meanness so prevalent in the Repug government!!

[PSPS]

5. Should also require undoing the dismantling that has already been done.

They will essentially shut down the government unilaterally anyway. That's their goal. They're already shuttering agencies and departments even in defiance of court orders, all while looting the treasury.

[valleyrogue]

24. No "dismantling" has been done. n/t

[Think. Again.]

7. I hope our elected Dems realize how important a SOLID, unified, wall of Resistance is right now.

Sure, the DINO's will show their disloyalty (to both America and Democracy), but the true Patriots must stand together!

[Wicked Blue]

8. That's what I told Sen. Kim in my email

-- that elected Democrats need to present a united front to stand up to the Madministration.

[Autumn]

9. Republicans and Fetterman should have enough votes to keep the

government open don't they?

[Woodycall]

11. Not without the House...

[Wiz Imp]

17. The Senate needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster

That means, 7 Democrats would have to agree to the Republicans budget. No way that happens. In the House, Republicans can pass a budget without any Democratic votes, but they can't afford any defections. That is highly unlikely too.

As of now, it seems Democrats are completely united and will not provide any votes to get a budget passed without super significant concessions. Democrats have all the leverage here and seem prepared to use it.

[Buddyzbuddy]

10. Good Strategic move?

I think it might be a good strategic move, but on the one hand, I'm concerned about innocent people that depend on gov't services such as V.A./SS. On the other hand, how much more damage would occur than what they're already doing.
At least this way, they get the blame even though they will do their best to spin the blame on Democrats.
The other concern I have is that it might force them to realize they don't need Democrats if they work together.
Bottom line, I say, do it.

[Raftergirl]

12. There won't be any federal government agencies to shut down when they are supposed to vote. They will all be

decimated by then.

[valleyrogue]

25. Gee, I guess those court decisions don't mean anything. n/t

[Timeflyer]

13. If that what it takes to stop Musk and tRump, do it.

[Zorro]

15. Trump wants the government to shut down and the USA to default on its debt

Declaring bankruptcy has been his personal MO for decades, and he shut the government down in his previous term with no real consequences to him. March is going to be one fucked-up month for us all.

He does not care if it causes inflation to skyrocket and government bondholders to suffer financial losses, he'll still be in power and believes he can force the House and Senate to bend to his will. Creating chaos and mayhem are his methods.

[Figarosmom]

16. Wouldnt shutting down the

Government then leave all the government offices and computer systems unattended? Giving musk and crew free reign into the offices and computers?

[COL Mustard]

18. Dems in Congress need to show some spine.

Article I gives CONGRESS the power of appropriations, not FOTUS or Elmo. Take back what you've given away, Congress! You can do it!

[usonian]

19. What government? This isn't a government. It's a wrecking crew.

Just keep enough people on staff (preferably armed?) to prevent ransacking.

?????

Would soldiers and guards work without pay to keep Mousselini in power?
For how long?

[flashman13]

21. Please, we must stop thinking in terms of normal. The MAGAts have already destroyed normal.

It doesn't matter one way or the other if Congress does or doesn't pass a budget or CR. Trump and Musk couldn't care less.

eLoon and the Muskrats control the computers at the U.S. Treasury. They can create a budget out of whole cloth to spend, or not spend, in any way they wish. When you control the treasury and the flow of money, you control the government and the country. This is a bald faced coup.

Who is to stop them? Neither the Congress nor the Federal Courts have any enforcement mechanisms. Bondi owns the enforcers. Short of spiking the computer system, there is no way to stop them. Horrifying doesn't begin to cover the situation.

There is still one other way.

[Scrivener7]

26. They're going to shut it down more permanently anyway. We may as well anticipate it and get some traction out of it.

[yaesu]

27. Shutting down a shithole country might not be a bad idea, why suffer for 4 years, get the class war over with

Asap.