207 Comments
User's avatar
Lucas Rumler's avatar

As a federal employee- who relies on my government paycheck to pay the bills- knowing I will have to work without pay- I say shut it down. The extra-constitutional actions of this administration have been awful- from removing our rights to collectively bargain, to removing the healthcare services Americans rely on. We have already lost 2 rural clinics in Maine. We elect people to represent us, not watch and collect a paycheck as we get fleeced.

John S Covell's avatar

With the ruling party having demonstrated its willingness to wield the federal government to hurt the American public and erode the Constitution, there's a good argument that shutting that government down would reduce the pain being inflicted.

LEO's avatar

Look to Janet Mills for most of the problem

Dennis Perkins's avatar

Rep. Golden.

This is weak, mealy-mouthed nonsense.

We are currently fighting to save American democracy. If you're not going to fight, then quit.

SHUT. IT. DOWN.

Patricia Reed's avatar

I agree with you completely! Golden supported the GOP in March and look where it's gotten us. Trump is out of control. We need to stand strong and do what might actually have some positive results!

Diane Smith's avatar

I don’t t think we are getting good info from anybody on TV. Yes we should fight Trump. We should absolutely fight Trump but do we really think shutting down the government is a good idea. I think it will just give Trump the license to ignore Congress completely not to mention the American people that he has already abandoned. Personally I am tired of the Democratic tirade and wish it would turn into meaningful action. Effective action!! Power to the governors that are fighting Trump tooth and nail. Congress needs to learn from them and fight effectively without further hurting the American public that a shutdown would cause. .

Harold Coombs III's avatar

It may need to get worse, much worse, to get Republicans to realize how dangerous this regime is

LEO's avatar

You are weak minded. Jared is on the right track

Gregory J Summers's avatar

Your personal attack is very Trumpy like.

John Leisenring's avatar

How about writing legislation that would require that the salaries of all legislators and their staff be suspended until the government shutdown is ended. That would put an end to government shutdowns forever. These shutdowns never really shutdown essential government.services and they never really accomplish any progress kin the budget process. It's all about politics, not responsible government.

Mary Lello's avatar

At this time in our history and this disatrous administration you really need to be standing with the Democrats ... 100%. The shut down is a strong statement, though a major conudrum, yes. But the Dems demands are for the people and are not that extreme. Republicans need to understand that there is still some power afforded this side of the aisle. Stand with your fellow Democrats Jared ... and with us!!!

Patricia Reed's avatar

Sadly, I don't trust him.

Deb's avatar

He's shown us all the reasons we can't. VOTE HIM OUT.

Mary Lello's avatar

But who will replace him? LePage?

Sherwin A. Start's avatar

I Most Certainly Hope NOT!

Deb's avatar

Stay tuned. Good news coming.

LEO's avatar

Sorry Dems but your policies are not for the good of the people

Michele Gagnon's avatar

Shut it down. There's is nothing for the average American that the Republicans are offering. Nothing! That is par for the course under this mess of an administration. There's millions for parades, tarted up oval office, ballrooms, paved rose gardens, while most of us can't afford gas, groceries, health care and I'm pretty sure my social security is going to take a hit. Democrats need to play hardball, not more wishy washy concessions. Stop being polite.

LEO's avatar

The Biden disaster caused most of the problems we have today especially the high cost of everything. Give it a little time and stop being so angry!

Michele Gagnon's avatar

If you check facts on the General Accounting Office website you'll see that the economy, although not perfect, was in fact in pretty good shape at the end of Biden's term. Too many of you simply believe whatever vitriol comes out of dumps mouth.

Harold Coombs III's avatar

Supporters of Trump are jall the same. Facts do not matter. Their leader has convinced them to only listen to him. Anyone else is stupid and woke.

John Leisenring's avatar

The budget you want shut down was passed by Democrats.

Michele Gagnon's avatar

No. The budget I want shut down is Russell Vought's Christian nationalist budget from project 2025.

Skepticat's avatar

It isn't brinksmanship over the federal budget that is putting Americans at risk; it is this deranged and out-of-control maladministration. I'd have supported your approach, as I have supported the party in many earlier similar situations, if it weren't that a shutdown seems the only way to put the brakes on those giving us a ride over a much-steeper cliff. There may be a time for caving to the craven; this ain't it. Please vote for the shutdown.

Jeffrey Campbell's avatar

you say the administration is out of control but yet he always wins in the courts and if you were really worried about this then why not ask congress to take back control of all the things they have given the executive branch over the years, Congress gave him all this power by not doing their job for years. Doesn't anybody follow history any more or do they just blame the other side because they have an R or a D after it?

SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

What are you talking about? It seems like everyone in this thread is paying more attention to both history and current events than you are. People who live in reality right now are saying this administration is out of control because they are constantly, every day, committing more acts that are illegal, unconstitutional, and corrupt. And they do all currently happen to have R after their names.

Jeffrey Campbell's avatar

oh so that is why the courts are stopping them? open your real eyes and take a look at what is really happening. The only reason he is allowed to do what he is doing is because congress has for years refused to do their job and run the parts of the government they were responsible for. Stop trying to blame just one man for everything, he could do a lot less if congress did their job, oh and you trying to forget the last guy was the biggest thug to ever hold the office! You're a real piece of work Sydney but you fail to see things without jaded glasses on.

Harold Coombs III's avatar

A judgement is only goid if the administration abide by it. Since the current one ignores many of the judgements, it does no good.

Jarrett Kerbel's avatar

The administration is losing in the courts in about 65% of the cases brought. The latest - the case against the NYT - got thrown out by the judge who scolded the lawyers for their idiotic petition and limited them to 40 pages if they try again.

Christy Cross's avatar

I sure wish you had better and more accurate information. At least you don't cite any specific inaccuracies...

SydneyMichalski🌿NatureMoments's avatar

Yes, that is why the courts are stopping them. You sound like a Russian troll Jeffrey, or a Fox viewer - repetitive arguments, personal attacks, alternate-reality propaganda.

Jan Kruse's avatar

Your #1 job is to unite with your party and stand up to MAGA TRUMP GOP and be a brave leader for your constituents! We want you to do your job! NOW!

Jeffrey Campbell's avatar

It's not party first, it's Maine first and country first. Get your eyes focused on reality!

Sherwin A. Start's avatar

Bravo Jeffrey!! Partisan Politics in Washington, D.C. IS KILLING this Country & its people-literally! Our elected representatives are SUPPOSED to be in Washington to Take Care of the Citizens of the United States of America, NOT any Political Party!

LEO's avatar

Amen, and anger is not for the good of anybody

Leanne A Waldie's avatar

I’m glad you’re working across the aisle. You can get all the Republican support you want but when the R at the top says no to negotiating, there won’t be a deal. I don’t trust him or his sycophants to do the right thing.

R T McSherry's avatar

Pretty much my feelings...Jared makes a good argument, but there are not enough centrists in either party, and especially none with control of the schedule, to come to a good outcome at present. I hate the idea of a shutdown, but these are not normal times.

LEO's avatar

You trust Chuck Shumer? he's the one who holds most everything up and Jefferies is way far left

Ann Marshall's avatar

And yet we managed to sent 20 billion to secure Javier Milei’s presidency. This libertarian has decimated all Social programs in Argentina. We had no say whatsoever. Why was that money able to be sent???

Sherwin A. Start's avatar

That's a very Good question, Ann. Would like to know the answer to that myself!

Diana Hauser's avatar

They have been betrayed - by themselves, by their adherence to evangelical voices and devotion to a tyrant. I don't like what is happening to 'farmers' but they brought it on themselves by accepting and voting republican.

Pamela Davison's avatar

Rep. Golden,

While I appreciate your thoughts and the effort that you are putting into working with others, I have to disagree with your stand on this. I ask that you join the rest of the Democrats and support their plan. While I ordinarily I would not want to see the government shut down, I think that this is something that needs to happen if the Republicans continue to not work across the aisle. I have just received updated information on my insurance plan and EVERYTHING is going up for next year. We are fighting for our democracy and I am angry, sad and furious that we no longer have representatives and senators that are willing to work together. Speaker of the House Johnson is not working to make our country better. Be the Democrat that I voted for and join with your party!

Sherwin A. Start's avatar

This is How the Republicans "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN."

Jeffrey Campbell's avatar

wow! you people have no understanding of government at all!

Judi Valentine's avatar

I think you've done a lot of good. But in this case you're being naive. It'll get harder in the future, not easier.

John S Covell's avatar

That's fair. Why bother enacting a statute when one party doesn't hesitate to violate statutes?

Jeffrey Campbell's avatar

slow down and stop saying things about one side when the last president was doing the exact same thing. I keep hearing he is not obey the law but I can't see one thing to prove he has not followed the law or did what was required when a judge made a ruling. some of you people make things up and have no proof at all, it's shameful!

John S Covell's avatar

Paul Simon said it best: "A man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest."

Stanley Kosinski's avatar

Sir,

I realized that you are a blue politician in a red district and have to make certain concessions to retain your post, but we're beyond that now.

As an independent voter, I can assure you that this is not a republican verse democrat situation, nor conservative verse liberal, it's about freedom standing up to fascism.

When you vote to support Trump's regime, you are normalizing and the abetting their crusade against

democracy.

Let's face it, the whole purpose of this administration is to line the pockets of Trump's billionaire cabinet by crushing the middle class into submission. For example, when all the independent farmers go bankrupt due to the implementation of those ridiculous tariffs, who do you think' is gonna swoop in and buy up their land and then charge whatever they want for what's produced on it.

Their end game is the total submission of the middle class to oligarchy rule.

Congressman, it's been demonstrated time after time that if you give them an inch they will take the mile.

We can't let that happen.

Please do not facilitate them in any way, or you become part of the problem.

R/SCK

Phil Kennedy's avatar

Last I checked GOP runs everything and if you cave to them again it will only get worse for the average Americans.

Let them shut it down, easier to fix the other stuff later then to go back through another multi decades fight over health care costs.

Do your job

Ebschaab's avatar

This is not one’s usual government. This is not actually what you signed up for.

But since we are in the midst of this mayhem. Please open your eyes,

These are more than highly unusual times.

And yes, I believe the shutdown is the Republican’s fault.

It may be terrifying to look at it that way.

If it’s true, what then. What are you going to do? It’s going to take guts.

Sherwin A. Start's avatar

"When the Going gets tough-the tough get going."

Jim Pope's avatar

I was very disappointed that you voted for the house budget stopgap bill. This administration is set on dismantling our Democracy so we must stand up to its threats. While I personally believe in a bi-partisan approach, the current administration does not so there is unfortunately no room for negotiation from their point of view. The refusal on Trump's part to even meet with Democratic Party leadership is evidence of that. If you believe, for instance, that passing a clean stopgap bill will save ANY federal jobs or that there will be ANY good faith healthcare negotiations from the Trump administration after the bill is passed then I'm afraid you are naive. This is the time to take a stand against the erosion of our Democracy.

John Lowry's avatar

At some point you have to realize that Trump and his followers are domestic enemies of the Constitution. Remember your oath. When everyone who follows you says they’re willing to sacrifice you have to decide to lead, get out of the way, or join the enemies of the Constitution. What say you?

Pete M's avatar

Who is the real enemy John ? Dems