Politics
JUST IN: Teamsters Boss Drops Hammer On Dems, Smashes Party’s Government Shutdown Narrative: ‘Put Politics Aside’
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien, flanked by Vice President JD Vance and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, called on Senate Democrats to immediately end the ongoing government that is on pace to become the longest in Republican history.
House Republicans last month passed a “clean” temporary funding measure, knowing as a continuing resolution (CR), that would extend fiscal year (FY) 2025 through late November and give lawmakers additional time to negotiate a comprehensive package for FY 2026. Senate Democrats, with the exception of three lawmakers, have repeatedly voted against the clean bill in order to hold out for legislative wishlist items like an extension of Obama-era Affordable Care Act (ACA) credits.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has openly admitted that Democrats are attempting to extend the shutdown as long as possible in order to gain political capital, particularly by blaming Republicans for side effects like the looming SNAP crisis. O’Brien rejected this framing, however, and explicitly called on Schumer to vote for the House-passed CR while speaking at the White House.
Look, the bottom line, and we took a position, I represent 1 .3 million working men and women in this country for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. We took a position three weeks ago. Pass a clean CR, get to the table, negotiate a deal,” he said.
“Do not put working people in the middle of a problem. They should not be in there. And we’ve got to think about the families that are going to be affected. Think about when you have to tell your son or daughter they can’t play sports because you’re not getting paid. Think about when you can’t pay your mortgage. Think about when you can’t pay your tuition. Put the politics aside, get to the table, negotiate a deal, pass a clean CR right now, and then figure out the problems moving forward.”
He went on to thank air traffic controllers, thousands of whom have been working without pay throughout the shutdown. “I want to thank the Aviation Administration for all their hard work and sacrifice they make. And look, security and safety of the airlines is paramount. Let’s not compromise the safety and security. Pass a clean CR.”
The longest shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days, spanning between December 2018 and January of the following year. The second-longest — until the current dispute — was a 21-day shutdown under former President Bill Clinton between December 1995 and January 1996.
