John Thune blasts Democrats in fiery Senate speech over shutdown: 'These are real people’s lives!'

WASHINGTON, DC: Senate Majority Leader John Thune delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, October 29, tearing into Democrats for reportedly voting down what he called “clean continuing resolutions” to reopen the government. 

Thune said that Democrats had rejected such bills thirteen times, prolonging a shutdown that has now stretched to nearly a month.

“We are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown... SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food. People should be getting paid in this country. And we’ve tried to do that thirteen times! You voted no thirteen times! This isn’t a political game. These are real people’s lives!” Thune said.

Thune criticizes Democrats over SNAP-only funding proposal

Thune reserved special criticism for a Democratic proposal to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) without reopening the rest of the government.

He called the move a “cynical attempt” to provide political cover rather than a serious effort to end the shutdown.

“[Democrats] realize, all of a sudden, 29 days in, that this is a real consequence, real life pain for American families,” Thune said. 

“They’re gonna propose a bill to fund food stamps during their shutdown... this request is a transparent admission that Democrats want to keep the shutdown for what? Another month? Longer?” he added.

Thune calls on Democrats to reopen the government

Thune argued that a Republican-led continuing resolution could end the crisis immediately if Democrats agreed to it. 

He claimed the bill would restore pay for TSA agents, Border Patrol agents, troops, and air traffic controllers while ensuring that SNAP recipients continue to receive benefits.

“The Democrat leader said that President Trump could end this with a stroke of his pen. And he’s right! We pass that bill, with a stroke of his pen, he’ll sign it into law, and the government opens up!" he said.

"And SNAP beneficiaries, SNAP recipients get food assistance. But you know what else? TSA workers get paid! Air traffic controllers get paid! Border Patrol agents get paid," he continued. 

"Troops get paid! These people here get paid, who are working without pay. You want to extend that and keep that going? Give me a break,” he concluded.

Shutdown nears the one-month mark

The 29-day shutdown has caused growing frustration in both parties, with millions of Americans reportedly facing disruptions in federal services and payments.

While Democrats argue that Trump’s refusal to accept a bipartisan spending plan triggered the impasse, Republicans allege that it is a Democrat-driven crisis that’s inflicting unnecessary hardship.

Speaker Mike Johnson also accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of “eating up the clock” instead of engaging in negotiations on a continuing resolution to fund the government.

"I think Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are irredeemable at this point. I have given up on the leadership," he expressed. 

"We are trying to appeal to a handful of moderates or centrists who care more about the American people and will put the people's interests over their own and will do the right thing in the Senate,” he said.