WASHINGTON – As the shutdown of the federal government grinds on without any resolution in sight, Americans continue to blame Republicans slightly more than Democrats for the impasse.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday indicated that 45% of registered voters think Republicans in Congress are more responsible for the government shutdown, while 39% think Democrats in Congress are more responsible and 11% volunteered that they think both parties are equally responsible.
The poll showed, unsurprisingly, that Democrats and Republicans hold each other’s party more responsible for the government shutdown.
But among independents, 48% told the Quinnipiac pollsters that Republicans in Congress are more responsible, while 32% said Democrats in Congress are more responsible and 14% said they think both parties are equally responsible.
The poll’s results were in line with other surveys that are seeking public opinion about the shutdown, which is threatening many social safety net programs.
Related: Shutdown Blog: The latest on the government shutdown and its impact on Minnesota
Minnesota is among nine states that in recent days warned food stamp benefits will likely not be available next month. Officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), food stamps provide food assistance to more than 440,000 lower-income individuals to supplement their grocery budgets.
“Due to a lack of funding caused by the federal government shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) food benefits will not be issued for November until the shutdown ends or the federal government issues further guidance,” the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families warned on its website. “The cash portion of MFIP will be issued.”
And federal money was set to dry up for four Minnesota nonprofits that run Head Start centers that serve nearly 1,400 preschool children and infants at the end of the month before the Department of Children Youth and Families allowed them to tap state funds to continue operations for another month.
Meanwhile, Democrats this week stepped up their messaging on how the expiration of enhanced subsidies to buy insurance on Affordable Care exchanges like MNsure will dramatically raise the cost of health care coverage. The extension of those enhanced premiums, set to expire at the end of December, is a Democratic condition for the party’s support of a stop gap spending bill that would reopen the government.
“A couple in their 60s in Marshall could see their monthly premiums increase from $233 to almost $400,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., posted on social media. “That’s a 70% increase. With prices already rising, that means families will have to choose between paying for essentials or health care.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, whose administration has shifted money to pay military service members and farmers during the shutdown, has said he’s protecting the paychecks and priorities of his supporters.
“The Democrats are getting killed on the shutdown because we’re closing up programs that are Democrat programs that we were opposed to,” Trump told reporters last week. “We’re not closing up Republican programs, because we think they work.”
‘A wrecking ball to the People’s House’
President Donald Trump’s destruction of the East Wing of the White House to make way for a huge 90,000 square foot ballroom that will tower over the main building of the White House horrified many Washingtonians this week.
But it also provoked sharp criticism from those who hail far outside the Beltway.
“Members of Congress can’t even put a damn nail in the wall without approval from the Architect of the Capitol — but as we speak, the President is taking a wrecking ball to the People’s House,” Rep. Angie Craig, D-2nd District, posted on social media. “I can’t think of a better metaphor for the destruction that is being caused by this Administration.”
When he unveiled his initial plans at the end of July, Trump told reporters his grand ballroom “won’t interfere with the current building.”
“It’ll be near it but not touching it and pay total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of,” Trump said.
Another change — the ballroom’s cost has ballooned from $200 million to $300 million, which will be raised by private donations from the nation’s biggest tech billionaires and others who might want favor from the president.
Trump’s MAGA supporters have pushed back on criticisms, noting that several presidents have made changes to the White House, including Barack Obama, who installed a basketball court.
They also point out that former President Harry Truman gutted the White House. But that renovation was needed because the building’s floors were sagging and its walls were crumbling.
“Engineers discovered that the White House was in danger of collapse due to weakened wooden beams, outdated plumbing, and electrical systems,” the White House Historical Society said.
So, new steel, concrete, wiring, flooring and interior walls were constructed in the interior of the White House, but the structure retained its footprint and overall appearance which had been altered by Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt.
Teddy Roosevelt created the West Wing of the White House to house the offices of presidents and their staff while Franklin Roosevelt created the East Wing — and also installed a pool to provide water therapy for the damage caused by polio.
Trump nominates Stuart for U.S. marshal
President Donald Trump this week nominated James Stuart, executive director of the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association, to be the next U.S. marshal in Minnesota.
A former Marine, Stuart served three terms at the Anoka County Sheriff’s office.
Minnesota’s Republican members of Congress, who recommended Stuart for the job, hailed the decision.
“James served in law enforcement for thirty years and experienced firsthand the importance of strong law and order policies,” Reps. Tom Emmer, Pete Stauber, Michelle Fischbach and Brad Finstad said in a statement. “Sheriff Stuart will support and implement President Trump’s successful crime crackdown as our U.S. Marshal. As criminals, gangs, and fraudsters wreak havoc in Tim Walz’s Minnesota, we urge the Senate to move quickly to confirm James’ nomination.
Related: Minnesota farmers want trade over aid, but they’d take some aid in the meantime
The lawmakers had also recommended Bob Kroll, a veteran police officer and former president of the Police Officer’s Federation of Minneapolis, for the job.
Kroll became embroiled in controversy for defending the four officers who were accused and eventually convicted of killing George Floyd.
He also criticized the city’s response to the unrest that followed, demanding the deployment of more Minnesota National Guard troops to quash the violence.
As part of a settlement of two lawsuits filed because of his conduct, Kroll agreed to a ban from serving as a law enforcement officer in three of the state’s most populous counties (Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka) for 10 years.
In case you missed it:
– We talked with Minnesota farmers who are waiting to hear on a possible aid package from the Trump administration to make up for fallout from the administration’s aggressive trade policies.
– Our shutdown blog continued this week (but hopefully not much longer!), so be sure to check it out for updates on the impasse’s impact on Minnesota.
– Speaking of the shutdown, we wrote about its threats to Head Start centers across Minnesota.
– State government reporter Matthew Blake wrote about how Minnesota might be able to help if federal funding for food and heating programs runs out.
– Also at the state level, Matt Blake wrote a profile of retiring Sen. Ann Rest, the New Hope DFLer who has served in the Legislature since 1984.
Your questions and comments
A reader commented on a story about the pain Minnesota’s farmers are experiencing (especially those who plant soybeans) as a result of President Donald Trump’s tariff policy and the farmers’ confidence the president will bail them out.
“Republicans decry socialism except when they are the beneficiaries,” the reader said. “Trump wants to use tariff money from all taxpayers. Including the poorest of the poor, to compensate farmers for lost trade. Trump has ruined our international trade market with no opposition from Minnesota’s four rural Republican U.S. House members. “
Please keep your comments, and any questions, coming. I’ll try my best to respond. Please contact me at aradelat@minnpost.com.
The post D.C. Memo: Americans blame GOP more than Dems for shutdown appeared first on MinnPost.
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