WASHINGTON – Sen. JD Vance suggested that threatening a government shutdown ahead of an upcoming funding deadline could be in Republicans’ best interest, asking, “If it’s not a functioning government, why have a government?”
Vance, the vice presidential candidate from the Republican party, made a statement about it interview Wednesday on the Shawn Ryan Show. In a podcast interview, he said the GOP should fight to seek changes, criticizing what he described as current spending on foreign wars and foreign aid and inadequate border security.
He argued that Congress has a “rubber stamp” mentality where programs from 20 years ago last forever, “instead of running a functional government where you ask yourself what makes sense this year and what doesn’t.”
“Why shouldn’t we try to fight the government shutdown to get something good for the American people?” he said. “The point is, if the government is not a functioning government, why have a government?”
Congress has until September 30th to fund the government, otherwise the shutdown will begin on October 1st.
Representatives of the Trump campaign did not immediately return requests for comment on Vance’s remarks.
Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday also called for House Republicans to “shut it down” unless they find a way to pass a government funding bill alongside the GOP election security bill.
“If House and Senate Republicans don’t get absolute assurances about Election Security, THEY MUST MAKE A CONTINUING BUDGET DECISION. … SHUT IT UP!!!” Trump He informed about this on the social networkTruthSocial.
After Trump’s comments, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., tied the six-month spending bill, or continuing resolution, to the SAVE Act, the GOP-backed law. it will fundamentally change the election.
But on Wednesday, Johnson suddenly canceled the vote It appeared that the bill would fail amid opposition from a group of Republicans. The House Speaker is fighting a razor-thin majority promised to continue negotiations with members of his party.
“We have two responsibilities right now,” Johnson told reporters Wednesday, adding, “Congress has many responsibilities, but it has two primary responsibilities: to fund government responsibly and to make sure our elections are free, fair and secure. And that’s what we’re working on and continuing to do.” we will and will notify you.”
Democrats have said they will support a “clean” spending bill to fund the government only through March, after the presidential election and inauguration.
In the podcast, Vance said he opposes CRs on principle, telling Ryan, “I’ve been in the Senate for two whole years. [and] I have never voted for a continuing resolution.”
“I don’t like continuing resolutions because that’s exactly what you’re doing, right? You’re stamping out more money for organizations like the Taliban. By the way, while we’re on the subject, we’re rubber…stamping more money for open borders,” added the Ohio Republican. did
He also said he prefers to engage in a traditional appropriations process, where “we actually go in and say, ‘Why are we spending money on this?’ Should we spend less money on this thing?”
Vance did not vote in the Senate this week as Congress returns from a month-long recess.