Republican Senator Complains, ‘Our Leadership Just Ignores Me’

Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) griped on Thursday that Senate Republican leadership ignores his ideas.

Kennedy appeared on The Ingraham Angle on Fox News amid the ongoing government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1 after the Senate failed to muster the votes necessary to pass a Republican-sponsored funding bill. Even though Republicans control the chamber 53-47, 60 votes are needed to overcome a procedural hurdle to move the bill forward. Democrats said they won’t support any funding bill unless it contains an extension of healthcare premium subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, which are slated to expire on Dec. 31. So far, Republicans have refused.

President Donald Trump has demanded that Sen. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) end the filibuster and eliminate the 60-vote threshold so Republicans can move their spending bill forward.

Laura Ingraham asked Kennedy if he agreed with Trump’s demand.

“So, Senator, do you agree with President Trump that, given what’s at stake for the country, that it’s time for Republicans to consider dumping out of the filibuster rule, because the Democrats are obviously gonna dump out of it themselves the next chance they get and run the table, regardless of what Republicans do?” she asked.

“No, I don’t agree with him,” Kennedy responded. “I’m not ready to get rid of the filibuster or the blue slip. I don’t know what the Senate in the next Congress is going to look like. I think Republicans will hold the Senate. I think what President Trump is really frustrated about is the fact that the Senate’s not doing anything, and he’s right.”

The senator went on to note that the Senate passed the Trump-backed “one big beautiful bill,” which was done via budget reconciliation, and therefore required only a simple majority to pass.

“And since then, we’ve done nothing, zero, zilch, nada,” he continued, before explaining that he urged leadership to pass a second bill through reconciliation. “In fact, we had a meeting. Every time I brought up the idea of doing a second reconciliation bill where we don’t need Democrats, our leadership just ignores me. And I don’t blame the president for not being frustrated. He’s frustrated that we’re not getting up off our ice-cold, lazy butts and passing bills that would be part of his agenda.”

Watch above via Fox News.