Sen. Rick Scott Condemns Democratic Blockade Over Government Shutdown

Democrats who refuse to vote for a continuing resolution to reopen the government are prioritizing politics over the needs of Americans facing missed paychecks, Sen. Rick Scott said in an interview with Newsmax on Thursday.

“President [Donald] Trump is frustrated and so am I,” the Florida Republican stated during “Wake Up America.” “He’s frustrated that the Democrats have blocked everything.” Scott criticized lawmakers for receiving pay while federal workers and military families go unpaid, questioning why Democrats allegedly neglect the welfare of the military and FAA employees. “They get paid. You know, senators get paid. I have a bill that the Democrats have blocked, no budget, no pay,” he said.

Scott argued that senators should experience the same financial strain as those affected by the shutdown. “They said, ‘Oh, we have mortgages,'” he remarked. “You know what? So do people that need food stamps, so do people that are military, so do people that are keeping our planes safe in the sky.” He advocated for reopening the government first before addressing policy disputes, urging, “Let’s open up government and have a conversation about how we fix this country.”

The senator also hinted at potential changes to Senate rules if Democrats continue obstructing legislation and nominees. “We have to have all options on the table,” he said, suggesting Republicans might face no choice but to act decisively.

Scott highlighted Florida’s population growth, noting that more people are relocating from high-tax states like New York and New Jersey for economic opportunities. He criticized democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor, claiming socialism and communism fail, and warned of rising threats to Jewish students in northern cities, advocating for their migration to Florida.

Additionally, Scott condemned Verizon for disclosing Republican lawmakers’ phone data during the Arctic Frost investigation, calling it a violation of privacy and part of a broader pattern of political targeting. “Every American should be frustrated,” he said, referencing previous leaks of his tax records by the Biden administration. “If they can go after people like that, they can go after you, and they will.”