The current political climate has stirred the pot more than a chili cook-off. President Donald Trump has branded Democrats as “crazed lunatics”, accusing them of stalling his nominees unless they’re handed a hefty $2 billion in federal funds.
It appears that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democratic colleagues are slow-walking more than 150 of Trump’s nominees. They’ve been accused of asking for billions in government funds as a trade-off for a vote on the nominations.
According to CBS News, Schumer had been negotiating for a sizeable sum: $5 billion for the National Institutes of Health, $1 billion for the Global Fund, $300 million for the World Food Program, $50 million to fight HIV in developing countries, and about $140 million for the United Nations Children’s Fund, among other previously approved funds.
Amid this political tug-of-war, Senators believed they’d struck a deal to get about 20 nominations through. But it seems the president put a stop to that, quicker than a rattlesnake strike. Republicans claim they’ll attempt to alter Senate rules come September to expedite the confirmation process.
It’s a story as old as our democracy, a struggle for power and control. But let’s remember the heart of this matter beats with a simple truth: the democratic process must prevail. So, as we watch the political punches fly, let’s not lose sight of the real story unfolding.
We’ll need courage as we continue to watch this political standoff, where the very essence of our democracy hangs in the balance.