(14 Mar 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++BEGINS AND ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington – 14 March 2025
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Tina Smith, (D) Minnesota:
“I’m voting no on the CR. I believe that the CR would do terrible damage. It’s not even a CR. It’s a, it’s a new bill written exclusively by Republicans that would do great damage to Minnesota. It does not fund projects that have gotten bipartisan support. It cuts funding for fetal alcohol syndrome and for Alzheimer’s. And I also think that now is the time for Democrats to fight on this and just show that we’re not going to just stand by while Republicans are handing over all this power to over to the president.”
++WHITE FLASH++
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, (D) New Mexico:
“I’m voting no today.
(Reporter: On cloture?)
I’m voting no. I announced yesterday that I’d be voting no on the CR, and I stand by that statement that I did jointly with Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, my colleague.
(Reporter: Are you disappointed in Leader Schumer’s decision to support this bill?)
Look, we all have the responsibility to represent constituents in all parts of America. The choices that were put in front of the United States Senate by House Republicans were both horrible. They’re both bad. What House Republicans set the United States up for should be embarrassing to them, and colleagues are having to make those decisions. If you’re asking me if I support Chuck Schumer, I support Chuck Schumer, and I announced I’ll be voting no. And I right now, that’s where I’m standing.”
++WHITE FLASH++
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, (D) Rhode Island:
“No, what I’m disappointed in is people focusing on which Democrats should have voted which way, rather than on the Republican cabal that set the scheme up so that we had two horrible and impossible choices that deprived us of the opportunity to vote on the 30 day extension that would lead to a fair, traditional, bipartisan spending bill. It was there to be done, and they just refused to do it to create this mess for us.“
++WHITE FLASHES++
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, (D) Rhode Island:
"(Reporter: Can you share with us how you will vote?)
Yeah, I’m a no.
(Reporter: On cloture?)"
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
The Senate is nearing a key test vote as lawmakers work to avoid a partial government shutdown with just hours to spare.
At least eight Democrats will need to join with Republicans to get to a 60-vote threshold and advance the measure forward.
Sen. Tina Smith, (D) Minnesota, says she’s voting no.
“I believe that the CR would do terrible damage. It’s not even a CR. It’s a, it’s a new bill written exclusively by Republicans that would do great damage to Minnesota,” Smith said.
Democrats confront two painful options Friday as a midnight deadline looms.
They can allow passage of a bill they believe gives President Donald Trump vast discretion on spending decisions.
Or they can vote no and let funding lapse.
The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, said Democrats really didn’t have a choice because a shutdown would have far worse consequences for Americans.
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, (D) New Mexico, also says he’s voting no, but does not blame Chuck Schumer for his decision.
“Look, we all have the responsibility to represent constituents in all parts of America. The choices that were put in front of the United States Senate by House Republicans were both horrible. They’re both bad,” Lujan said.
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