Both Democratic senators from Maryland said Sunday that the Senate shouldn’t take up any legislation unrelated to the partial government shutdown until a vote is taken to reopen the government.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) wrote on Twitter that Democrats in the Senate “should block consideration of any bills unrelated to opening the government,” while also calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to allow a vote to reopen the government.
“Senate Democrats should block consideration of any bills unrelated to opening the government until Sen. Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans allow a vote on the bipartisan bills the House passed to open the government. Mitch, don’t delay. Let’s vote!” he tweeted.
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) wrote in response that he “agreed” and called the shutdown a “crisis” and a “fundamental failure.”
“Agreed. This isn’t business as usual. This is a crisis, a fundamental failure to govern, and Americans are suffering for it,” he tweeted. “The Senate should not take up any bills unrelated to reopening the government until @SenateMajLdr lets us vote on exactly that. – READ MORE