‘These Are Real People’s Lives!’ Irate GOP Leader ERUPTS on Democrats in Senate Speech

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) erupted on his Democratic colleagues in an impassioned floor speech on Wednesday, berating them for voting against a “clean” continuing resolution to fund the government thirteen times.

Thune’s specific objection was to a Democratic bill to continue to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) without reopening the government.

Here’s what he had to say:

Let me just point out, if I might, that we are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown. And the senator from New Mexico [Ben Ray Luján] is absolutely right. SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food. People should be getting paid in this country. And we’ve tried to do that thirteen times! You voted no thirteen times! This isn’t a political game, these are real people’s lives that we’re talking about! And you all just figured out, 29 days in, that, “Oh, there might be some consequences”?

There are people running out of money! Yeah, we’re 29 days in. And they’ve done their best to make sure that a lot of these programs are funded. But at some point, the government runs out of money. Thirteen times people over here voted to fund SNAP! Thirteen times they voted to find WIC! My aching back! Finally realized this thing has consequences. Well, you know what? What Democrats are doing here, they’re making plans to keep the shutdown going. And they realize, all of a sudden, 29 days in, that this is a real consequence, real life pain for American families. Something that results from their shutdown, so are they making plans to end the shutdown and reopen the government?

Nope! They’re gonna propose a bill to fund food stamps during their shutdown. Mr. President, this request is a transparent admission that Democrats want to keep the shutdown for what? Another month? Longer? This bill is a cynical attempt to provide political cover for Democrats to allow them carry on their government shutdown for the long term!

Now, I’ll point out we did 13 short-term, clean CRs when they had the majority, and President Biden was in the White House. Thirteen! They’ve now voted 13 times against a clean CR. I don’t know where you-, I have no idea where you’re coming from. The Democrat leader said that President Trump could end this with a stroke of his pen. And he’s right! We pass that bill, with a stroke of his pen, he’ll sign it into law, and the government opens up! And SNAP beneficiaries, SNAP recipients get food assistance. But you know what else? TSA workers get paid! Air traffic controllers get paid! Border Patrol agents get paid. Troops get paid! These people here get paid, who are working without pay. You want to extend that and keep that going? Give me a break.

Watch above via C-SPAN 2.

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