Lawler Warns of Prolonged Government Shutdown as Democrats Face Criticism

Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., stated on Wednesday that he does not anticipate the partial government shutdown ending this week, accusing Democratic leaders of intentionally dragging out the impasse to satisfy the far left of their party.

“Based on the way Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are conducting themselves, unfortunately, I don’t think so,” Lawler said during an appearance on “Finnerty” when asked if the shutdown might conclude by Thursday or Friday.

The federal government entered its eighth day of a partial shutdown Wednesday after Senate Democrats rejected a House-passed stopgap funding measure that would have kept operations running through mid-November. Lawler described the legislation as “a clean continuing resolution” that Democrats had previously supported but now refuse to advance for political reasons.

“The fact is, Hakeem Jeffries and every single House Democrat but for one [Rep. Jared Golden of Maine] voted to shut the government down nearly three weeks ago,” Lawler said. “And of course, Sen. Schumer, who’s petrified of a primary challenge from AOC [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.], has been blocking the clean CR from advancing to keep the government open and funded.”

Lawler argued that Democrats’ resistance stems from fear of alienating their progressive base, asserting that the dispute over Affordable Care Act subsidies is not the core issue. “This really isn’t about healthcare,” he said. “This is about their far-left base and the fact that they are petrified that if they actually do their jobs, they will be primaried and removed from office.”

He contrasted the political stalemate with the foreign policy achievements of former President Donald Trump, noting that Trump “just secured a peace deal in the Middle East and is securing the release of the remaining hostages.” Lawler added, “Maybe, just maybe, Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer could wake up and realize they look like a clown show on Capitol Hill.”