Since the government shutdown began on Oct. 1, Nebraska’s congressional representatives have been voicing their support for an unchanged continuing resolution that would fund the government through November. As the shutdown enters its second week, tensions between congressional Democrats and Republicans are still high.
In a call with reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Pete Ricketts blamed Democrats’ unwillingness to compromise for the continuing shutdown.
“Government services have been diminished or stopped,” Ricketts said. “Senate Democrats want to hold rural Nebraskans’ health care hostage. Important programs like telehealth have lapsed. This is what a Schumer Shutdown looks like.”
Ricketts said the Senate has continued to hold votes on the continuing resolution, giving Democrats multiple opportunities to change their vote. Several Democrats must cross the aisle and vote with Republicans for the shutdown to end.
The Democratic holdouts in Congress say health care access concerns prevent them from voting to approve the continuing resolution. Restricted access to Medicaid because of work requirements added to the One Big Beautiful Bill and expiring Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies are Democrats’ main sticking points.
Ricketts said the current lack of support from Democrats is hypocritical, considering their past votes for current funding levels.
“This isn't new,” Ricketts said. “Senate Democrats passed continuing resolutions 13 times during the Biden administration. Nearly 100% of Democrats voted for these specific spending levels four times in the last 18 months.”
In an interview with Nebraska Public Media News, Rep. Mike Flood said federal workers are suffering the most during the shutdown. Next Wednesday’s paycheck for air traffic controllers, military members, TSA workers and others will likely be delayed.
Flood said the rumor around Congress is that Democrats will not come to the table until after a No Kings protest in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 18.
“Now we'll see if that's actually true or not,” Flood said. “I think missing a paycheck for our troops is a pretty big deal. But if it were me, this would have never happened.”
Flood said tax credits for the ACA are needed so Americans don’t abruptly lose health care access, but he said the program is prone to fraud. He also discussed modernizing the Farm Bill and carrying farmers through a tough transitional period of agricultural trade with subsidies — particularly for soybean growers.
“I said before this shutdown — however the government funding goes on October 1 will be how I predict the Farm Bill goes,” Flood said. “And that shouldn't leave anybody with the impression that I think it's going to go well.”
Flood said rhetoric referencing a “Schumer Shutdown” (for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer) and government websites labeling the shutdown as a radical Democrat effort simply reflects the Trump Administration’s communication style.
“We all have our own style,” Flood said. “That's not my style. My style is to seek common ground where it's possible. My style is to treat people the way I want to be treated, and to thank the federal workers that are working their tails off to serve all of us.”
All of Nebraska’s representatives have referred to the government shutdown as the "Schumer Shutdown’" or "Democrat shutdown" on social media.
Additionally, Sen. Deb Fischer, Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Adrian Smith have all continued calling for Democrats to support the continuing resolution on their websites and social media.