Schumer And Jeffries Prepare Another Blank Check For The Trump Dictatorship
Their latest communique to Republicans suggests they do not intend to fight.
Two weeks ago I wrote that it was (once again) gut check time for Democrats. The annual federal budget will soon lapse, and they will have to decide whether to write Donald Trump another blank check for abusing power, or use their leverage in an attempt to rein him in.
Raise your hand if you had money on the former!
A joint letter from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to their Republican counterparts positions Democrats to ignore Trump’s promiscuous lawbreaking and then fold without securing any concessions.
You can read the whole thing here, but I’ve pasted the critical section below:
The government funding issue must be resolved in a bipartisan way. That is the only viable path forward. At the same time, it is critical we come together to stop the Trump administration’s assault on healthcare in America. Unfortunately, it appears the Republican-controlled Congress lacks a plan to address the mounting healthcare crisis your budget reconciliation bill has set in motion. Hospital closures and staffing reductions are wreaking havoc on everyday Americans, particularly in rural communities. This Fall, millions of people will confront dramatically increased health insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles.
With the September legislative work period soon upon us, it is imperative we receive clarity about the following questions:
1. What is your proposal to fund the government in a bipartisan manner and avoid unnecessary harm to the American people?
2. Are there any plans to address the looming healthcare crisis caused by Republican policies, including the so-called “One Big Beautiful Law”?
3. Has the President or any member of the Trump Administration indicated to either of you that the Office of Management and Budget will submit another rescissions package?
The leaders make no demands. The closest they come is to request a meeting, in the hope of getting answers to these questions. Not to establish conditions for Democratic votes, just to see how uncompromising Republicans intend to be.
This is, if anything, a weaker posture than they adopted in March, before folding and igniting an enormous grassroots backlash. Here’s how you can tell that, as of now, they don’t intend to fight.