House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has dropped a political bombshell, accusing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of sheer incompetence in triggering a partial government shutdown.
According to Newsmax, Scalise tore into Schumer on "The Record with Greta Van Susteren," claiming Democrats have inadvertently handed President Donald Trump a significant advantage. This shutdown, he argues, plays right into Trump's hands by expanding his authority.
“This is insanity on Chuck Schumer’s part. Malpractice really,” Scalise declared, pointing out that shutting down the government only empowers Trump further.
Scalise explained that the House passed a straightforward continuing resolution to maintain current spending levels until Nov. 21. This temporary measure was designed to keep everything running smoothly while negotiations continued.
“It’s no changes, no new things, no taking out things we don’t like. It just keeps everything status quo,” he emphasized, underlining the simplicity of the plan.
Yet, Democrats in the Senate refused to budge, rejecting the resolution outright. Scalise sees this as a deliberate misstep, one that shifts power to the president under old federal rules.
Under the Antideficiency Act of 1870, a shutdown gives the sitting president broader discretion to decide what counts as “essential” services. Scalise noted this isn’t new, referencing how even during the 2013 shutdown, President Obama gained similar authority.
“President Trump is the president. He gets more of the power of the purse to deem what’s essential and what’s not,” Scalise said, highlighting the unintended boost to Trump’s influence.
This legal quirk, while rooted in history, turns a political blunder into a strategic win for the White House. It’s a bitter pill for Democrats who likely didn’t anticipate this outcome.
Scalise didn’t hold back in accusing Democrats of orchestrating the shutdown to push controversial priorities. He specifically pointed to their insistence on taxpayer-funded healthcare for unauthorized migrants as a sticking point.
“They have been hell-bent on getting taxpayer funding for healthcare for illegal aliens,” he charged, framing it as a policy most Americans reject. While federal law currently bars such benefits under Medicaid or the Affordable Care Act, some Democratic-led states have explored local coverage options.
Looking to Nov. 21, Scalise insisted that Democrats must abandon what he called “crazy demands” for any hope of a deal. “They’re going to have to drop this demand that illegals should get healthcare for free,” he added sharply.
Despite the heated clash, Scalise acknowledged that House and Senate committees had been working on appropriations bills before the shutdown derailed progress. There’s still a window to resolve this if cooler heads prevail.
“If Schumer votes to reopen the government, then we can get back to a negotiation on the differences on those bills,” he offered, suggesting a return to normal operations is possible. The ball, as he sees it, is squarely in Schumer’s court.
This mess serves as a stark reminder of how quickly political gamesmanship can backfire. Democrats may have thought a shutdown would pressure Republicans, but instead, they’ve handed Trump a tool to steer the ship as he sees fit.
