Utah Republicans point fingers at Democrats as government shutdown begins

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's Republican representatives and senators are pointing the finger at Democrats after federal funding lapsed overnight, kicking off what could be a lengthy government shutdown.

Republicans hold slim majorities in both the House and Senate but need help from the minority to clear the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate. Democrats have pushed for an extension of health care tax credits that are set to expire at the end of the year.

Some Republicans, including President Donald Trump, have falsely claimed that Democrats want to give free health care to undocumented immigrants, and Sen. Mike Lee claimed the expanded health care subsidies have led to increased fraud.

"Democrats have shut down the government in an attempt to perpetuate massive fraud on American taxpayers," the Utah Republican said on social media.

The House passed a seven-week stopgap bill to keep the government running last month, but the measure failed to clear the Senate. Rep. Blake Moore, Utah's only member of House GOP leadership, said past shutdowns "have happened for several reasons, but this one is squarely on the Democrats' shoulders."

"Today, I voted to keep the federal government open and to prevent unnecessary harm to hardworking, taxpaying families in Utah and across America," Utah Sen. John Curtis said Tuesday. "Sadly, the measure failed without enough Democratic support, and once again Washington's dysfunction has forced a shutdown."

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers face being furloughed or laid off, but essential services will continue to function — although essential government workers will not be paid until Congress agrees to a spending deal. Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks will remain open to the public during the shutdown, but visitors are told to expect reduced staffing and services.

Natalie Randall, the managing director of the state's Office of Tourism, said the agency is working with "public and private partners at all levels, offering strategic support to ensure the parks remain open with necessary resources." Utah's 46 state parks are unaffected by the federal shutdown, and the state's tourism website will maintain a page tracking which services are available at each of the state's national parks.

"Utahns expect Congress to do its job, not play political games," said Gov. Spencer Cox. "Rejecting a commonsense plan to keep the government open puts Utah families and our economy at risk."

Essential missions, medical care, airfield operations and emergency services will continue at Hill Air Force Base, though pay may be delayed for service members, per the 75th Air Base Wing Public Affairs. The Hill Aerospace Museum will be closed, and other base services will be closed or operate with limited staffing.

Freshman Rep. Mike Kennedy on Tuesday introduced a bill that would stop paychecks from going out to members of Congress during government shutdowns. He said he's also open to making it so that government funding would continue at current levels if lawmakers can't agree to new spending, saying the shutdown process has been weaponized by politicians from both parties.

"I'm supportive of taking this weapon off the table that both sides seem to be willing to use, so that we, the American people, are not held hostage as we try to get the government funded through regular order budgeting," he told reporters Wednesday.

Although there appears to be little agreement between Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, Kennedy said he suspects the current shutdown could be resolved as early as within the next several days.

"I expect the next 24 to 48 hours — and maybe no more than five to seven days — I think we'll be out of this shutdown because the American people are going to hold those responsible for shutting down our government when we need to keep it open and moving forward," he said.

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