Rep. Jared Golden (ME-CD2) explained why he was the only Democrat in the House to vote on Tuesday in favor of a Republican-led, seven-month Continuing Resolution (CR) spending package that would avert a government shutdown.
“At worst, Dems are adopting the same cynical GOP political tactics that we have rightfully denounced — using misdirection to justify a vote. This may seem politically expedient, but it only lowers us to a level we shouldn’t accept,” said Rep. Golden on X.
Continuing resolutions typically spark controversy, and the most recent was no different, passing the House with an extremely slim 217-213 majority, with Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Golden each voting against their respective parties.
The majority of Democrats appeared to prefer a government shutdown over passing a spending package endorsed by President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
Golden, in contrast, explained that he believes a shutdown would be worse for the country than a funding bill that he does not entirely support.
“This CR is not perfect, but a shutdown would be worse. Even a brief shutdown would introduce even more chaos and uncertainty at a time when our country can ill-afford it.
He further argued that it is his duty as Maine’s congressman to ensure that the federal government is funded.
“Funding the government is our most basic obligation as members of Congress. My vote today reflects my commitment to making tough choices and doing my job for the people of Maine,” said Golden.
While explaining his vote, Golden also pointed to aspects of the bill that he believes will benefit Maine and the nation as a whole.
Those benefits include:
- Billions to construct a General Dynamics destroyer at Bath Iron Works.
- Increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- Increased funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- Increased disaster relief funding.
- Increased operational funds for national parks including Maine’s Acadia.
- Increased telehealth flexibility for Medicare recipients.
- Funding for state Medicaid grants.
- Funding for aging and disability services.
Golden criticized members of his own party, without naming specific members of Congress, for claiming that the CR would cut funding for veteran services.
“The truth is: There are no cuts to veterans care in the period covered by this CR & we have six months to ensure funding continues in the next fiscal year. To say it contains cuts is, at best, a misreading that creates unnecessary fear among veterans,” he said.
Golden, whose district Trump won in 2016, 2020 and last November, has often shown a willingness to work across the aisle and support more moderate Republican policies, while Maine’s Chellie Pingree (D) typically aligns with the furthest left in her party.
The CR bill was no different, and following the vote, she issued a statement bashing Republicans and maintaining her opposition to the spending package.
“I remain firmly against the partisan full year continuing resolution Republicans passed last night, and stand ready to support a 30 day funding extension that stops harmful cuts and keeps the government open,” said Rep. Pingree on FaceBook.
While Golden broke with his party in favor of the bill, Rep. Massie sparked controversy when he joined Pingree and every other Democrat in opposing the CR, although for very different reasons.
“By continuing 2024 appropriations into 2025 with a “Continuing Resolution,” Congress just locked in a large portion of the Biden agenda for the first nine months of Trump’s presidency,” said Massie after the bill passed.
Massie has long been a fiscal hawk, opposed to any spending increases, as the U.S. debt continues to skyrocket with no end in sight, and he has often voted against legislation supported by the majority of his party.
His vote sparked controversy on social media, with President Trump calling for him to be primaried, and many social media users siding with the popular congressman over the President.
“Thomas Massie, of beautiful Kentucky, is an automatic “NO” vote on just about everything, despite the fact that he has always voted for Continuing Resolutions in the past. HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED,” said Trump.
In order to pass into law, the CR will need approval in the Senate, where it will take a 60-vote majority to invoke cloture and overcome a filibuster to force a vote.
Normally, that would mean seven Democrats would need to support the bill, but Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has vowed, like Massie, to oppose the bill on similar grounds, meaning that eight Democrats will need to vote across the aisle.
“The Republican spending bill continues to fund the very foreign aid @elonmusk proposes to cut! The bill continues spending at the inflated pandemic levels and will add $2T to the debt this year,” said Sen. Paul.
As the threat of a government shutdown looms if the Senate cannot approve a spending package by the end of Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said that Democrats are united in opposing the Republican CR, and instead support a 30-day compromise funding package.
“Funding the government should be a bipartisan effort. But Republicans chose a partisan path, drafting their Continuing Resolution without any input from Congressional Democrats. Because of that, Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to pass the House CR,” said Sen. Schumer.
“Our caucus is unified on a clean 30-day CR that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass. We should vote on that,” he added.
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