At a weekly press briefing with Senate Democrats on Tuesday, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) called upon her Republican colleagues to work with Democrats on a funding bill to prevent a government shutdown.
00:00Thank you very much. Well, I did have a very productive conversation last night with Chairs Colin Collins and Ranking Member DeLauro about conferencing the first three bills and a bipartisan short-term CR to allow us to pass the remaining full-year bills.
00:16But we are nine days into September, and it is past time for Democrats to start hearing from Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune regarding their commitment to a bipartisan CR to avert a shutdown and move this ball forward.
00:35Look, let's remember, Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House.
00:40They are quite literally in the driver's seat, and if Republican leadership, for whatever reason, decides to let the car go off the cliff, we know who will be held responsible.
00:53Because the only reason for there to be a shutdown is if Trump wants a shutdown.
00:59The only reason for there to be a shutdown is if Republicans choose a shutdown.
01:05Because Democrats do not want a shutdown.
01:08We want to produce and protect folks back at home and the investments they rely on.
01:13So there is a tried-and-true off-ramp Republicans can take to avoid a shutdown.
01:19Work with us on bills that actually help people.
01:23Work with us on bills that reject the catastrophic cuts Trump wants and that protect child care investments and fund cancer research and invest in our public schools.
01:34This is basic stuff.
01:36If you want Democratic votes, work with Democrats to write funding bills that reflect Democratic priorities.
01:43Our doors are open.
01:45We are at the table.
01:47And as I said, Ranking Member DeLauro and I are at the table with Chairs Cole and Collins.
01:52But we know this means very little unless Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune agree with their approach to a bipartisan short-term CR that carries some of our conference bills.
02:05My general approach is to lay out my principles and invite my colleagues to the negotiating table.
02:11And the main focus for me right now comes down to this.
02:14First, I want the strongest possible outcome for the folks I represent.
02:19And second, I will not vote for a funding bill I had zero say in drafting.
02:25I do not pursue bipartisan funding legislation for adequate or civility.
02:31I do it when it is clear it is the best way to get the best result for the people of my home state of Washington and every part of our country.
02:39We have proven that with our bills here in the Senate, rejecting Trump's budget request left and right, because let me tell you, it does belong in the trash, on the Appropriations Committee, we have not just shown that bipartisan work is possible, despite what House Republicans pretend, but also that it can deliver stronger results for people at home.
03:01When Democrats have a say, we write bills that protect people's health care and reject Trump's plan to slash kids' cancer research.
03:11When Democrats have a say, we protect funding for preschoolers, enrolled in Head Start, and for our public schools.
03:17When Democrats have a say, we make sure working families have a seat at the negotiating table.
03:23Those outcomes matter to people back home.
03:26So I am fighting to pass spending bills that help people get by, and I'm fighting to ensure we do not end up in another partisan, year-long slush fund CR that hands more power to Trump and vote.
03:41It is clear the bipartisan path is the surest way to avoid a shutdown, and it is clear based on our work this summer, bipartisan path is actually possible.
03:52The only question is, will Republicans choose that path so we can invest in our communities, or will they choose partisanship and a shutdown?
04:02Will they do whatever Trump and Russ want instead of what is best for folks at home?
04:07We need Speaker Johnson and Leader Thune to get serious about the path ahead.
04:13I invite Republican leadership once again to reject shutdown politics, help conference these three bills we've passed, and work on a short bipartisan CR that helps us complete full-year bipartisan funding bills.
04:29The ball is in the Republicans' court.
04:32So to my Republican colleagues, let's work together.
04:35We don't work for Russ's vote.
04:37Let's turn back on life-saving cures and support America's public schools.
04:44Let's protect health care and address other out-of-control costs that we know Trump is making worse by day.
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