{"id":20915,"date":"2025-10-31T03:48:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T03:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=20915"},"modified":"2025-10-31T03:48:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T03:48:21","slug":"thune-erupts-in-rare-anger-blasts-dems-for-holding-government-hostage-amid-shutdown-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=20915","title":{"rendered":"Thune Erupts in Rare Anger, Blasts Dems for \u2018Holding Government Hostage\u2019 Amid Shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), typically known for his calm, measured demeanor, erupted in frustration on the Senate floor Wednesday, accusing Democrats of prolonging the government shutdown and using social welfare programs as political leverage.<\/p>\n

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Thune\u2019s rare display of anger came during a heated exchange over legislation to temporarily fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to low-income families.<\/p>\n

Democrats, led by Sen. Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), pushed for a standalone bill to keep SNAP benefits flowing as the shutdown approached its 30th day.<\/p>\n

Thune fired back, noting that Republicans had already voted 13 times to reopen the government, only to be blocked by Senate Democrats.<\/p>\n

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\u201cLet me just point out, if I might, that we are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown,\u201d Thune said, his voice rising. \u201cSNAP recipients shouldn\u2019t go without food. People should be getting paid in this country. And we\u2019ve tried to do that 13 times. You voted no 13 times.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Democrats pressed for an immediate vote, Thune grew visibly exasperated, turning toward the Democratic side of the chamber.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou all just figured out, 29 days in, that, oh, there might be some consequences? There are people who\u2019ll run out of money? Yeah, we\u2019re 29 days in,\u201d he said, slapping the lectern for emphasis. \u201cAt some point, the government runs out of money. My aching back. You finally realize this thing has consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The exchange underscored the deepening frustration among Senate Republicans, who argue that Democrats are deliberately stalling a reopening of the government to extract concessions on unrelated spending priorities, including renewed subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t a political game,\u201d Thune said. \u201cThese are real people\u2019s lives that we\u2019re talking about.\u201d<\/p>\n

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