Budget & Tax, Good Government

Oklahoma Democrats decry government shutdown caused by D.C. Democrats

October 21, 2025

Ray Carter

For three weeks now, parts of the federal government have been shut down after Democrats successfully prevented the passage of legislation that would keep the government open, operating at existing funding levels.

By the start of November, the shutdown is expected to result in the loss of funding for the federal food-stamp program, now referred to as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Oklahoma legislative Democrats issued a statement this week bemoaning that possibility and declaring they have identified the culprit.

Oklahoma Democrats urged Oklahomans to ignore their own eyes and instead blame the loss of food-stamp benefits on congressional Republicans who have repeatedly voted to reopen the government and fund the program.

“Just as we predicted earlier this month, Oklahomans are paying the price of our federal delegation refusing to work together,” said House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma City.

“Oklahoma families are going to suffer because the Republican-controlled federal government won’t compromise,” said state Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa.

State Reps. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Annie Menz, D-Norman, also issued statements decrying the loss of food-stamp benefits.

None of the Democrats acknowledged that members of their own party have repeatedly voted to prevent the passage of legislation that would fund the program.

On Oct. 21, U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, gave brief comments on the Senate floor, noting that a majority of U.S. Senate Democratic members have voted repeatedly to block funding that would allow the federal government to reopen.

“We’ve given Democrats here in the Senate numerous opportunities to end the shutdown,” Thune said. “We’ve held, now, 11 votes on a clean, nonpartisan continuing resolution to end the shutdown and the pain that comes with it. And they said no every time.”

Democratic lawmakers have vowed to continue opposing efforts to reopen the federal government unless Republicans agree to increase spending by another $1.5 trillion over the next decade.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., recently noted that the new spending demanded by Democrats includes many items opposed by most citizens, including $200 billion in health benefits for illegal aliens and tens of millions of dollars for “climate resilience in Honduras” and “LGBTQI+ democracy grants in the Western Balkans.”

“They want to spend 2.9 million of your dollars for desert locust risk reduction in the Horn of Africa, $2 million for organizing for feminist democratic principles in Africa,” Johnson said. “We are not doing that. These are unserious proposals from unserious people. They are playing games while real Americans are being harmed adversely by the shutdown.”

The Democratic proposal also calls for the elimination of work requirements for able-bodied adults on Medicaid.

Notably, three members of the Senate Democratic caucus have voted with Republicans to reopen the government: U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada; John Fetterman, D-Penn.; and Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats.

However, the legislation needs 60 votes to break the Democratic filibuster and proceed to final passage.

“… Democrats continue to dig in,” Thune said in his floor remarks. “They say we have to agree to their demands before they’ll agree to pay our troops. Before federal workers can have certainty about putting food on the table and paying their bills. Before needy families can be sure that nutrition assistance will be there for them.”

While Democratic members of the Oklahoma House of Representatives issued statements decrying the consequences of their own party’s actions without acknowledging their party’s role in creating the problem, the Republican leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives did not have to engage in similar mental gymnastics.

“It’s deeply frustrating that gridlock in Washington, driven by (U.S) Senator Chuck Schumer and the majority of Senate Democrats’ unwillingness to act, is putting critical programs like SNAP at risk,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. “Oklahoma families shouldn’t have to pay the price for partisan inaction. The Oklahoma House remains focused on protecting our citizens and ensuring families, seniors, and children have access to the support they need, regardless of what happens in D.C.”