Hamza Adam 
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), who voted against the continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown, declared that Senate Democrats should put up a fight and not give in so easily to passing the bill.
Sen. Chuck Schumer (R-NY) was roundly criticized after announcing Thursday that he was bucking his party and voting yes on the CR. Schumer argued that voting for the measure would thwart Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s ambitions of a government shutdown that would make it easier to get rid of federal workers.
Moskowitz told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Friday that he voted against the CR primarily because Republicans wouldn’t include his amendment to protect Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid from any future DOGE cuts.
“Now, listen, no one wants a government shutdown,” Moskowitz said. “Democrats don’t want a government shutdown. I think a majority of Republicans don’t want a government shutdown. But, usually, we come up with a bipartisan agreement — that wasn’t this. This is a partisan agreement. They didn’t talk to us. They didn’t get any of the things we would have liked to get into the bill.”
ALSO READ: ‘Came as a surprise to me’: Senators ‘troubled’ by one aspect of government funding bill
Moskowitz went on to say that Senate Democrats like Minority Leader Schumer needed to push back on the bill.
“I’d like to see the Senate for a period of time, you know, throw down on cloture. If this was Mitch McConnell, Mitch McConnell would not be giving any votes on cloture. Mitch McConnell didn’t even do that when it came to a Supreme Court seat — he made sure that Barack Obama couldn’t refill that Supreme Court seat. And, here, I think we’re giving in too easy on cloture.”
Moskowitz said that doesn’t mean Democrats “won’t make a deal quickly.” But, he added that Schumer’s move was confounding.
“Schumer invoked cloture, and then immediately said that he would provide the votes. And, so, that was very confusing to House Democrats on our side. Why even say you’re going to invoke cloture and then immediately back down? The Trump people know how to negotiate, okay? And, now, what they do is, they smell weakness…Now that doesn’t mean some of Schumer’s points are not incorrect — that, yes, Trump and Elon would use it as an opportunity to continue to wreak havoc. But, this is the only opportunity Democrats have until September on reconciliation.”
The Senate is expected to vote on the funding bill Friday evening.