Congressman Eric Burlison on government shutdown

The government shutdown entered its 24th day Friday, marking the second longest in U.S. history, with no resolution in sight.

Southwest Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison on the KZRG Morning Newswatch, speaking about an interview with Democratic Whip Katherine Clark: 

“She was being interviewed and she said that of course there will be families that are going to suffer, but it’s the one of the few leverage times that we have. So this should tell you everything that you need to know, that the Democrats are not supporting the military because they have to leverage them. They’re not supporting air traffic controllers or TSA agents or border patrol or ICE officers because they’re a pawn to leverage against getting their agenda, which is the one and a half trillion dollars in federal spending increases.”

Senator Ron Johnson offered a proposal to pay essential workers’ salaries separately and was rejected by Senate Democrats despite covering military, air traffic controllers, TSA, border patrol, ICE, and park rangers.

Congressman Eric Burleson explained the bill had no hidden conditions and was a simple payroll fix.

Democrats opposed the bill as part of a strategy to leverage the shutdown for a $1.5 trillion increase in federal spending.

This rejection reflects a tactical choice to apply pressure despite the harm to workers.

The shutdown is a last-ditch effort by Democrats to influence the agenda despite lacking majority control.