Potential shutdown threatens republican image, according to expert

Senate Republicans have set a procedural vote for Thursday on a temporary funding bill to avoid a government shutdown on October 1.

The bill has been a non-starter for Democrats, because it would de-fund Planned Parenthood.

Senate Democrats have enough votes to block the bill, but political experts say Republicans may have to be careful. According to Salisbury University Political Science professor Dr. Mike O’Loughlin, if a shutdown actually does happen, it could hurt the party’s image in an election cycle.

“It enables the democrats to have another issue to criticize the republicans.” Explains Dr. O’Loughlin. “They could say that republicans hurt the economy don’t put them back in power in congress, put democrats in power.”

If Thursday’s bill gets blocked as expected, Senate Republicans are poised to introduce a clean bill with no riders about defunding planned parenthood. This would presumably pass but it would then go to the House next week.