Another Republican Abandons Trump on Shutdown

A spokesman for Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) told The Denver Post the senator will vote for a “clean” spending bill that would reopen the government with no strings attached.

That includes no funding for increased border security.

While most of Gardner’s conservative constituents vigorously support Trump, the president’s polling during the partial shutdown has steadily eroded.

The editorial board of Colorado’s most circulated paper – unsurprisingly – supports Gardner’s decision.

Per The Denver Post:
 

It’s the right thing to do.

We cannot stress enough that our democracy’s health is at stake in this political stalemate. When we allow funding measures and budgets to be tied to policy objectives and pet projects, everyone suffers. Both parties are guilty of the malpractice, as we noted at about this time last year when Democrats were the ones orchestrating a shutdown in pursuit of protections for immigrants without legal status who were brought to America as kids.

This 33-day, partial shutdown is driven by President Donald Trump’s demands for $5.7 billion for a wall on America’s southern border. It should stand as the last time our politicians abuse federal workers as though they are disposable pawns in a grander game of political chess.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, pledged to allow his members to vote on two bills Thursday and one would fund the government until Feb. 8 without the controversial money for Trump’s wall (it would keep border security funding at the same level). That clean continuing resolution takes the common-sense approach of alleviating the shutdown crisis and then allowing negotiations on immigration reform and border security.

During his time in Washington, Gardner has consistently opposed shutdowns.