'People are pissed': Democrats fume over Senate shutdown deal, blame Chuck Schumer

A private House Democratic caucus call on Monday turned into a heated airing of grievances, as lawmakers vented frustration at a group of Senate Democrats who cut a bipartisan deal with Republicans to reopen the government.

According to multiple members on the call, more than a dozen Democrats spoke — nearly all sharply critical of the compromise struck in the Senate. The mood, one lawmaker said, was “furious.”

Rep Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) told colleagues, “People are f**king pissed.” One participant said nearly “everyone [was] strongly against” the deal, according to the Axios.


House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) instructed members to keep criticism directed at Republicans and to avoid targeting “a few individuals in the Senate,” according to three lawmakers on the call. Rep Susie Lee (D-Nev.), the leadership representative for members in battleground districts, likewise urged colleagues to focus shutdown-related attacks on Republicans, not fellow Democrats.

The fury followed Sunday’s vote by eight Senate Democrats to advance a bill that would reopen the government. The deal struck with Republicans promises a Senate vote next month on renewing expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits.

However, the bill requires 60 votes to pass and offers no guarantee of a House vote, making its success uncertain.

Roughly half of those who spoke on Monday’s call either directly criticised Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) or concurred with earlier speakers who lambasted him, sources said.

Indian-origin RO Khanna blamed Schumer after several Senate Democrats cut a deal with Republicans aimed at ending the government shutdown and called for him to step aside from his leadership post in Washington.

“He's the leader of the Senate. This deal would never have happened if he had not blessed it. Don't take my word for it. Take the word of other senators who are saying that they kept Sen. Schumer in the loop the whole time,” Khanna said in an interview with CBS News’ “The Takeout.”

He continued: “Look, I've worked with Sen. Schumer. He did an incredible job on the CHIPS Act, on the [Inflation Reduction Act], on infrastructure. But it's time for him to be replaced. He is not meeting the moment. He's out of touch with where the party's base is.”

Rep Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) argued that Schumer either “can’t control his caucus” or he “gave his blessing” to the deal. A spokesperson for Senator Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Despite widespread anger among progressive and moderate House Democrats, some of the party’s most centrist members indicated openness to the Senate deal. As the call began, Rep Jared Golden (D-Maine), a retiring centrist who has opposed his party’s shutdown strategy, signalled support. “Congressman Golden’s position on using a government shutdown as a legislative strategy has been clear and has not changed,” a spokesperson told Axios, while stressing his support for extending ACA tax credits.

Lee said on the call that she remained undecided on the bill even as Jeffries declared his opposition and vowed to fight it.