Massachusetts

‘This is No Way to Govern': Local Lawmakers React to Government Shutdown

Last-minute negotiations for a new spending bill crumbled late Friday, as Senate Democrats blocked a four-week stopgap extension in a late-night vote, forcing the federal government to shut down at the stroke of midnight.

President Trump blamed Democrats for the government shutdown in a series of early morning tweets Saturday.

New England's largely Democratic delegation was quick to share its reaction on social media, with many expressing disappointment in Trump and Republican leadership.

"This government shutdown is perfectly representative of the chaos of the #Trump Administration at the one year mark. 365 days of screwing Americans," Rep. Seth Moulton, who represents Massachusetts 6th congressional district, said in a tweet.

Rep. Moulton wasn't alone in placing blame on Trump and the GOP. 

"This shutdown lies squarely on the shoulders of President Trump and his GOP allies in Congress, and their tactics could not be more cynical," Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy said in a statement posted on Twitter. "It is another shameful chapter for a party that seems to hit new lows on a daily basis." 

Senator Elizabeth Warren, in a tweet that had over 19,000 retweets, said "this is no way to govern.

Aside from placing blame across the aisle, many lawmakers also expressed their belief that the American people deserve better.

Rep. Moulton went so far as to call for a new generation of leaders in Washington. 

Congress scheduled an unusual Saturday session to begin considering a three-week version of the short-term spending measure.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said, "No guarantees, but there is a strong chance for a resolution over the weekend with good faith on both sides. It would be good to get this done before folks head in to work Monday."

Senators Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, of New Hampshire, released a joint statement on Twitter discussing their continued efforts to find bipartisan common ground, saying "a workable bipartisan agreement is within reach."

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