Progressive factions within the Democratic Party have intensified their opposition to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as grassroots organizations plan to back primary candidates who challenge his leadership. Indivisible, a prominent grassroots organization, announced its commitment to support Democratic candidates in upcoming primaries who oppose Schumer’s continued role as the party’s leader. This change is a direct response to increasing frustration among progressives with Schumer’s treatment of recent appropriations negotiations.
The grassroots advocacy group MoveOn has also recently joined the chorus calling for Schumer’s ouster. This action is indicative of a broader, exploding frustration among progressive organizations. Almost all of these organizations supported Schumer’s plan during the recent government shutdown. Now they have turned against him for permitting a compromise, a breach of covenant, that they deem too weak.
Dissent within the party presents enormous obstacles for newly ascended Republican Speaker Mike Johnson. In order to figure these issues out, he has held the House in recess for more than 50 days. Now he’s trying to bully Senate Democrats into going along with Republican demands. At the same time, he is trying to walk a tightrope 219-member majority in the House. That’s because with full attendance, he can only lose two votes on any future budget bill.
Also likely to vote against the Republican measure is House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie. So far the only Republican to oppose the bill has been Rand Paul of Kentucky. Only eight moderate Democrats supported the measure. Most of them were just re-elected to new terms, while others are serving out their last terms in Congress now.
A newly formed splinter faction in the Senate joined with Republicans to introduce their own compromise bill. This bill will keep the federal government funded until January, but it would not extend tax credits for Affordable Care Act health plans, enacted by President Joe Biden and set to run out at the end of the year. This bipartisan group had some of the best, most powerful senators. They are Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Angus King of Maine.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House Democratic leader, condemned the compromise bill as a “partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people.” He emphasized that Democrats have consistently demanded any government funding measure must include an extension of tax credits for ACA health plans.
“Unfortunately, the Senate-passed bill fails to address our constituents’ top priorities, doing nothing to protect their access to healthcare, lower their costs or curb the administration’s extreme agenda.” – Democratic representative
In other words, progressive voices are starting to stay in the noise-canceling criticism. Greg Casar, a representative from Texas, characterized the Senate’s actions as “a betrayal of millions of Americans counting on Democrats to fight for them.” This idea expresses a popular anger among members of the party that recent bipartisan agreements have traded away core social safety nets.
Katie Bethell, yet another advocate for progressive change from within the party, led a call for Schumer’s resignation from his leadership post. She stated that it is “time for Senator Schumer to step aside as minority leader to make room for those who are willing to fight fire with fire when the basic needs of working people are on the line.”
Brad Schneider, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, reiterated that his group seeks common ground but remains united against any legislation that undermines the welfare of their constituents.
“While New Dems always seek common ground, our coalition remains united in opposition to legislation that sacrifices the wellbeing of the constituents we’re sworn to serve.” – Brad Schneider
Just as these positive developments were occurring, a rift within the Democratic Party has grown increasingly apparent. These divisions may make it more difficult to pass other essential budgetary measures. Johnson’s plan to pressure Senate Democrats into action has put him in a precarious spot. Those razor thin margins in the House greatly increase the odds of a really ugly vote on any eventual legislation.