Chuck Schumer & Dems should stop prioritizing politics and open the gov’t — for America

Chuck Schumer finally said the quiet part out loud.

In an interview Wednesday about his shutdown strategy, he bragged, “Every day gets better for us.”

Better for him? Maybe. For the American people? Absolutely not.

House Republicans passed a straightforward bill to maintain the status quo and keep the government open.

Senate Democrats blocked it and dug in. Why? Because the longer this drags on, the more they think they can score political points. Schumer just admitted it.

This week, I went to speak with House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries face-to-face.

After being blocked from entering his daily press conference, I politely waited for Jeffries outside to ask him a straightforward question: If he cares so deeply about health care, why won’t he sign onto a bipartisan House bill to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, a bill that already has 13 Democrat co-sponsors?

Instead of answering, Jeffries struck his finger in my chest and hurled personal insults my way. His tantrum was caught on camera for the entire world to see.

This is Washington at its worst: pontificating press conferences, political posturing and zero willingness from Democrats to solve a problem they keep decrying on TV.

Here are the facts: I’ve said from Day 1 that nobody wins in a government shutdown — least of all the families in New York’s 17th District who rely on veterans’ care, Social Security, Medicare and other essential services.

I meant it when I fought to avert shutdowns in the past, and I mean it now.

A shutdown throws families into limbo — furloughs, frozen paychecks and bills piling up.

Each week the government stays dark costs our economy billions; markets get skittish, and investment stalls from Main Street to Wall Street.

That’s not “better” for anyone except the political arsonists cheering from the sidelines.

So why are Schumer and Jeffries blocking a vote to reopen the government?

Because they’re terrified of the radical activists and democratic socialists who are now setting the agenda for their party.

On Oct. 18, there are nationwide “No Kings” protests planned aimed squarely at pressuring Democrats to object to anything Republicans are doing. 

Don’t take my word for it; progressive groups already attacked Schumer, protesting outside his house, when we successfully funded the government last spring.

And now? His team is working with these groups to run Schumer’s “Shutdown War Room.” 

They have reason to be nervous: Multiple polls this year show AOC crushing Schumer in a hypothetical 2028 Democratic primary, with double-digit leads that would make any politician sweat.

Meanwhile, the progressive left’s standard-bearers are winning real races.

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani rolled through the New York City mayoral primary and dominated across Democratic districts, including 70% of the vote in Hakeem Jeffries’ district. 

So instead of governing, Chuck and Hakeem posture. Instead of negotiating, they grandstand.

And when pressed — like Jeffries was yesterday — they lash out with personal attacks rather than explain why they won’t support a bipartisan, temporary extension of ACA subsidies while we reopen the damn government and finish full-year funding.

I don’t care about their theatrics. I care about reopening the government and protecting the people I represent.

That’s why I’ve consistently pushed for responsible appropriations, fiscal discipline and secure borders — and why I’ve worked across the aisle when that’s what it took to keep the lights on.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it: Compromise is not a dirty word; it’s how you govern.

Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries can stop this today. The House already passed a clean, time-limited funding bill to ensure paychecks continue and services run smoothly, allowing us to negotiate the remaining differences without punishing the country in the meantime.

But that would require putting the American people ahead of their fear of being primaried by the far left. It would require leadership.

Instead, we get Schumer boasting that “every day gets better for us.”

All while families wonder when their next paycheck will arrive, small businesses worry whether their loans and permits can ever be processed, active-duty soldiers don’t get paid, veterans wait for benefits claims, flights get delayed due to air traffic controller shortages and seniors are left hanging if there is an issue with their Social Security payments.

Enough.

End the political games. Vote to pass the clean continuing resolution. Reopen the government.

If Democratic leaders won’t do that because they’re afraid of their own base, then they’ll be resigned to a permanent political minority.

Especially if they continue to hold the American people hostage.

Mike Lawler represents New York’s Hudson Valley area in the US House of Representatives.