Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) was the lone Democrat to vote for the continuing resolution to fund the government Tuesday. He blasted his own party for creating “unnecessary fear” with its claims about the bill.
The stopgap measure passed the House, 217-213, with only one House Democrat, Golden, voting in favor of it and only one House Republican, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, voting against it. The bill would continue funding at current levels through the end of September with $8 billion more in defense spending and $13 billion in nondefense spending cuts.
Nearly all House Democrats opposed the measure, claiming that the stopgap would cut funds to Medicaid, Social Security, and veterans. Golden rejected those claims in a statement on why he voted for the measure:
“There are no cuts to veterans care in the period covered by this bill, and we have six months to ensure funding continues into the next fiscal year,” Golden said.
“To say this bill contains cuts is, at best, a misreading that creates unnecessary fear among veterans. At worst, it’s the adoption of the same cynical GOP political tactics that Democrats have rightfully denounced — using misdirection to justify a vote. This may seem politically expedient, but it only lowers us to a level we shouldn’t accept,” he added.
He also argued that while the continuing resolution is “not perfect,” it is better than a government shutdown — which will occur if the measure is not signed into law by Friday.
“Even a brief shutdown would introduce even more chaos and uncertainty at a time when our country can ill-afford it. Funding the government is our most basic obligation as members of Congress,” Golden said Tuesday. “My vote today reflects my commitment to making tough choices and doing my job for the people of Maine.”
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Golden, a centrist Democrat, represents a congressional district that voted for President Donald Trump by roughly 9% last November and has been critical of his party’s messaging regarding the president in recent months.
The House of Representatives is in recess until March 24, meaning the Senate will decide the fate of the stopgap and if the government goes into a shutdown. To pass a filibuster, the legislation will need multiple Democrats to vote in favor of pushing forward the bill in the Senate.