As the partial federal government shutdown continues, Republican federal lawmakers from Iowa are displeased with the situation.

Iowa’s Third Congressional District Representative Zach Nunn is blaming the Senate Democrats and claiming that they are wanting a $1.5 trillion spending bill that includes billions of dollars for free healthcare to illegal immigrants and prioritizing that over paying for the military to continue to serve. Sources say that congressional Democrats are not pushing for illegal immigrants to get free healthcare, but to extend the tax credits for eligible individuals to continue to use the Affordable Care Act.

Nunn shares his thoughts on the actions by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

“Chuck Schumer could’ve ended this weeks ago when moderate Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the Senate, the majority of both chambers, passed a clean CR (continuous resolution). But he chose to play to his far left base, who’s having a ‘hate rally’ out here on the National Mall this weekend, as the driving force.” 

US Senator Chuck Grassley quoted Senator Schumer saying, “Everyday gets better for us,” which Grassley notes was said during the current shutdown.

“So it seems to me like he’s in no hurry to get it done and people are hurting as a result of it. It won’t be long, money will run out for the Women, Infant Children program, money could run out for food stamps as well, and all of those things. I think the pressure’s going to get pretty hot, pretty soon for him.” 

As for the layoffs that have recently happened with the federal government, Nunn applauds the work by the Office of Budget and Management to find efficiencies in departments and agencies during the shutdown, as they step in with Congress not being able to act. The Senate needs at least a supermajority, or at least 60 percent of Senators, to vote in favor of the spending bill to open the full federal government once again.