Tim Kaine Defends Shutdown Vote Amid Democratic Backlash

Senator Tim Kaine has responded to criticism from fellow Democrats regarding his vote to support a bipartisan agreement that funded the federal government and ended a week-long shutdown. Kaine was one of eight Democratic senators to join Republicans in passing the agreement, which reopened the government on January 31, 2024.

Since the resolution passed, Kaine has faced backlash from within his party, particularly from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who expressed concerns about reinforcing the idea that Democrats are weak. Ocasio-Cortez stated, “My concern is that the lesson that learning is that Democrats are weak and that next time, we just need to hurt working people and working Americans more to get them to fold. I don’t want them to learn that lesson.”

In response, Kaine highlighted the impact of the shutdown on his constituents, noting that approximately 320,000 federal employees in Virginia, along with their families, were affected by the closure. “Getting them all back to work with two paychecks that they’ve missed restored is significant,” Kaine said. He emphasized that the feedback from Virginians has been overwhelmingly positive. “I’m getting great feedback from Virginians, and those are the 8.5 million people I represent,” he added.

Kaine pointed out that negotiations for the continuing resolution were primarily managed by senators. He remarked, “I was at the table with the Republican senators, and I knew if we wanted to get to the healthcare discussion, we had to open up the government.” He contrasted this position with Ocasio-Cortez, who he noted was not involved in the Senate negotiations. Kaine questioned whether the alternative would have resulted in a longer shutdown, which could have jeopardized benefits for programs like SNAP and delayed paychecks for federal employees.

The senator also reflected on the past votes related to government funding. He noted that the last continuing resolution vote occurred in March, during which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer voted in favor of keeping the government operational. Kaine’s vote to support the current resolution has drawn scrutiny, especially as it extended the shutdown through key periods, including Virginia’s recent election.

In the wake of the shutdown, negotiations resulted in the reversal of planned layoffs that had been announced by the White House since the shutdown began on October 1, 2023. The new agreement aims to prevent further layoffs through the end of January. As the political landscape shifts, Kaine remains steadfast in his belief that the decision to support the bipartisan resolution was in the best interest of his constituents and necessary for maintaining government functions.

Kaine’s remarks indicate a broader conversation within the Democratic Party about strategy and unity, especially as they navigate complex negotiations with Republican counterparts. As discussions continue, the focus will likely remain on ensuring that the needs of federal employees and the implications of government funding are addressed effectively.