Rhoden, Jackley join national push urging Senate to prevent shutdown

Oct. 1 deadline looming as Senate Democrats try to get better deal

Photo by Harold Mendoza on Unsplash

Gov. Larry Rhoden and Attorney General Marty Jackley have joined national efforts urging the U.S. Senate to pass a clean, short-term funding extension to prevent a government shutdown.

Rhoden, along with 24 other Republican governors, signed a letter Monday to Senate leaders calling on them to approve the measure that has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives. Jackley also joined 25 other attorneys general in sending a similar message.

“A shutdown is neither sustainable nor a responsible way to govern, and the American people understand that. That is why we are calling on Senate Democrats to fulfill their duties, put their politicking behind, and do what’s best for the country: keep the government open,” Rhoden and his colleagues wrote. “The proposed budget extension is a straightforward, bipartisan solution. There are no gimmicks or partisan poison pills; it’s a clean, short-term funding measure that both parties have historically supported.”

The resolution would extend the current federal funding deadline of Sept. 30.

“Holding the federal government funding hostage is not just a Washington D.C. debate for political points, it has real and immediate consequences in every state across America that cannot be overlooked,” Rhoden and his colleagues added. “From impacting pay for our troops, first responders, and firefighters, to affecting critical services for seniors and veterans and disrupting food assistance for families in need, a government shutdown would inflict severe consequences on the American people that are completely avoidable. We urge the Senate to do the right thing and act swiftly to pass a clean funding extension.”

Jackley said funding certainty is critical for law enforcement.

“We need to make sure that those who keep us safe are paid and that there are still funds available for grants used by state and local law enforcement and first responders,” Jackley said. “Congress, especially the Senate Democrats who have pledged to oppose this resolution, needs to do its job and keep our government open. We can’t play games with our security.”

Governors who joined Rhoden include leaders from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Jackley’s letter was signed by attorneys general from the same states, along with Florida and Kentucky.

The South Dakota officials joined Senate Republican Leader John Thune in hoping to avoid a shutdown. Thune was on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday, joining other Republican leaders, including Vice President J.D. Vance, who did the Sunday news show circuit.

Thune said the funding bill is being held up by Democrats.

“The ball is in their court,” he said. “There is a bill sitting at the desk in the Senate right now, we could pick it up today and pass it, that has been passed by the House that will be signed into law by the president to keep the government open. So this decision, in my judgment, at this point in time is up to a handful of Democrats. We need eight Democrats to pass it through the Senate, something that 13 times when the Democrats had the majority over the last four years and President Biden was in the White House Republicans helped Democrats do.”

Rep. Dusty Johnson, meanwhile, has joined Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson in introducing legislation that would eliminate shutdowns. The bill continues government funding at current levels until Congress can pass new funding measures.

“There is plenty of blame to go around for any shutdown, but one thing is clear: no one benefits from a shutdown,” Johnson said in a release.