Yours truly, like many Americans, tends to tune out Federal budget funding cliffhangers as largely theatrics. This is not one of those times. The currently proposed continuing resolution, which the truly horrible Chuck Schumer has just said he will back, is set for a vote in the PM or evening Friday. This is absolutely not a routine short-term funding extension but includes several disastrous provisions which would give Trump the keys to the kingdom in terms of spending and a blank check on tariff powers, which he also has been abusing.
If at all possible, call your Senators at their local office ASAP. A call to the DC number is the next fallback, and then an e-mail if you can’t get through.
As Matt below said:
Tell them to OPPOSE CLOTURE FIRST.
No on Cloture. No on the dirty CR.
Be short since the fact of you being an in-state voter and firmly objecting is more important than a recitation of reasons (one will suffice; you can say you have more but this is more than enough reason to oppose it). I was not able quickly to find a register of Senators’ local (as in in state) phone numbers; the Senate website deters that sort of thing. Rather than providing those details, it only says “Phone numbers are available on each state’s page or on your senator’s website.” If anyone does locate such a guide, please pipe up in comments and I will update the post accordingly.
In the interest of getting this alert out on a timely basis, forgive me for doing a cursory job on the fine points. Please call your Senators this morning or early afternoon to voice your decided objection to this continuing resolution. Be sure to mention Congress otherwise giving up its power over spending via authorizing impounding and over tariffs. Further stress that failure to oppose the continuing resolution will pave the way for gutting critically important programs like Social Security and Medicare.
One reason that it is urgent to oppose the continuing resolution is that it contains a provision that allows the Administration to impound funds, as in refuse to make expenditures voted through by Congress. This would come close to vitiating Congress’ and therefore democratic control of the power of the purse. Think that ever gets rolled back once given away?
The continuing resolution is our Enabling Act of 1933. Congress delegating the power of appropriation to the executive is an unconstitutional breach of our government’s fundamental structure. Democrats voting to pass it are consigning the party to the same fate as Zentrum. pic.twitter.com/gceOocyCyc
— Dan Thomas-Commins (@DanTheRulesNerd) March 14, 2025
In particular, this continuing resolution would give Trump and Musk the authority to cut Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid:
To my Democratic Senate colleagues, please vote NO on the Continuing Resolution. The CR gives unprecedented powers to Trump and Musk and gives them a green light to slash Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. It is an affront to our Constitution and will wreck our economy.
— Dave Min (@DaveMinCA) March 12, 2025
2 things on Senate deliberations:
1. The GOP funding bill is NOT a continuing resolution. It is a 100% Republican funding bill that strips funding from veterans, food safety, public safety & gives Musk the keys to do everything DOGE is currently doing & strip Medicaid, Medicare…— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) March 13, 2025
Another reason to oppose the continuing resolution that is sufficient in and of itself is that it would give away Congress’ power to intervene on Trump’s tariffs. Recall that his actions on that front are already an abuse via repeatedly invoking an emergency when there is none to be found.
One of the worst provisions that Republicans slipped into their sham continuing resolution?
They’re taking away the power Congress has to fight back against Trump’s trade war. pic.twitter.com/QylTH45XXs
— Senator Peter Welch (@SenPeterWelch) March 13, 2025
Folks—is NOT a same-as-before “continuing resolution”—it’s a full scale Trump+Musk revamp bill with massive cuts to healthcare, homeless, child programs, environment, and more. Nobody should vote for this “CR” nonsense. pic.twitter.com/6QCBRtH9DU
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) March 13, 2025
Let’s be clear: House Republicans’ funding bill is Congress rolling over for the billionaire arsonists by rolling out a slush-fund filled, year-long continuing resolution that empowers Trump and Musk to pick winners and losers with YOUR taxpayer dollars. I will vote NO. pic.twitter.com/upphdtriuN
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) March 13, 2025
Let’s debunk this with 2 simple questions.
1. How many votes does it take to pass a Continuing Resolution?
The answer is 60.
2. How many Republicans are in the Senate?
The answer isn’t 53 since some of them are independents but there certainly are not 60.
Are Democrats… https://t.co/EfDNzx1kpq
— The Older Millennial (@teameffujoe) March 13, 2025
So please, get to work!