Rep. Mike Lawler on looming government shutdown, state of the NYC mayoral race

Key Concepts

• Government shutdown: A situation where non-essential government services are temporarily suspended due to a failure to pass funding legislation.
• Continuing Resolution (CR): A temporary funding bill that allows the government to continue operating at current funding levels.
• Filibuster: A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill. Requires 60 votes to overcome.
• Appropriations package: A set of bills that fund government agencies and programs for a specific fiscal year.
• OMB (Office of Management and Budget): The office within the Executive Branch that is responsible for preparing the President's budget and overseeing the implementation of government policies.
• Sanctuary State: A state with policies designed to protect undocumented immigrants.
• Cashless bail: A system where individuals are released from custody without having to pay bail.
• Ideological battle: A conflict arising from fundamental differences in beliefs and values.

Government Shutdown and Continuing Resolution

• Impending Shutdown: The US government is approximately 40 hours away from a potential shutdown due to a lack of agreement on funding legislation.
• Democratic Hypocrisy: Congressman Lawler accuses Democrats, specifically Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries, of hypocrisy. They previously opposed government shutdowns under President Biden but are now seemingly willing to allow one. The Congressman accuses Schumer of being "petrified of AOC and the progressive base."
• Democratic Demands: Schumer is demanding increased government spending and healthcare for illegal immigrants, which Lawler deems "dead on arrival."
• House-Passed CR: The House has already passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government through November 21st. This CR has Democratic support.
• Lawler's Position: Lawler has consistently voted for CRs, stating that government shutdowns are "dumb," save no money, create economic chaos, and should be avoided regardless of which party pushes for them.
• Filibuster Obstacle: Schumer is urged to "grow a spine," secure the necessary votes to break the filibuster, and pass the CR. The Congressman suggested negotiating over the next two months for the fiscal year 26 appropriations package.
• OMB Memo: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has issued a memo indicating potential government layoffs in the event of a shutdown. Lawler disagrees with permanent layoffs.
• Easy Solution: Lawler reiterates that the "very easy way here to to solve it" is to pass the CR.

New York City Politics

• NYC Race: Discussion shifts to New York City politics, specifically the race where Eric Adams is now out.
• Curtis Sliwa: The interviewee questions whether there will be Republican pressure on Curtis Sliwa to withdraw from the race.
• Andrew Cuomo: Lawler states that Andrew Cuomo is "not a solution" and is responsible for many of New York's problems, including cashless bail, making New York a sanctuary state, shutting down Indian Point, banning natural gas, and increasing state spending.
• Zohran Mamdani: Lawler views Zohran Mamdani's policies as "destructive" to New York, citing his stances on private property, defunding the police, abolishing the gang database, shutting down private prisons, and legalizing prostitution.
• Need for Consolidation: Lawler acknowledges that consolidation is necessary to defeat Zohran Mamdani.
• Sliwa's Position: Sliwa has the Republican line, framing the race as an ideological battle.
• Eric Adams: Lawler thinks Adams made the right choice.

Government Worker Layoffs

• Shutdown Layoffs: In the event of a shutdown, the executive branch will have to decide on essential positions versus fired positions.
• Solution: Lawler reiterates that the solution is to pass the CR to avoid any shutdown or firings.
• Schumer's Responsibility: It's up to Chuck Schumer to pass the CR. The Democrats have supported similar CRs when Biden was president.

Synthesis/Conclusion

Congressman Lawler is strongly advocating for the passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to avert a government shutdown, criticizing what he sees as hypocritical behavior from Democrats who previously opposed shutdowns. He believes that a shutdown would be detrimental to the country and that the CR already passed by the House offers a simple solution. He also discusses the New York City political landscape, expressing concerns about both Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo as potential leaders. The interview emphasizes the need for political compromise and responsible governance to avoid negative consequences for the American people.