WASHINGTON, D.C. – Minnesota Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach is the latest to join the chorus of Republicans blaming Democrats for causing the current federal government shutdown.
“This is on the Democrats’ back,” Fischbach told The Flag’s What’s On Your Mind? on Thursday. “They are holding people back.”
This week, Congress tried and failed to pass a continuing resolution, also known as a ‘CR’ for short, to avert a shutdown by October 1st.
Democrats are demanding an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to avoid a rise in health insurance premium costs, and to roll back Medicaid cuts approved in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Listen: MN Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach on The Flag
At the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul on Thursday, Governor Tim Walz called on lawmakers to resume negotiations and come to a compromise, but took a political jab at Republicans.
“Donald Trump has many time before he was president said if there was ever a government shutdown there’s one person to blame and that’s the president,” said Walz. “He was wrong about that. It’s also the Speaker of the House and member of congress from Minnesota who continue to not get their work done.”
Saying the party had the opportunity to vote on a “clean CR” before the deadline, Fischbach says Democrats are the ones delaying congressional work on several spending bills that are close to final passage.
“This is absolutely what a CR is for,” said Fischbach. “I want to get back to regular order, and Democrats are standing in the way of that.”
Asked if President Trump will follow through on a threat to lay off federal workers during this period, Fischbach indicated she would be in favor of such as move
“It would be a good time,” said Fischbach. “I don’t ever think people think government is too small.”
“I haven’t heard exactly what the president’s plan is on that, but I think that this would be the opportunity.”
