The longest federal government shutdown seems to be inching closer to its end. That’s following a vote in the U.S. Senate last night that saw eight Democrats break from the rest of their party to join with Republicans in a procedural vote. The deal would not restore the Affordable Care Act tax credits Democrats had been holding out for, but it would fund key government operations through January, including air traffic control and food assistance.
Illinois’ other Senator, Tammy Duckworth, was on the other side of Sunday’s vote. 21st Show host Brian Mackey spoke to Duckworth late last week — when talk of an end to the shutdown was in the air, but before any deals had been struck and before Illinoisans began receiving partial SNAP benefits for the month of November. She discussed air traffic control in the middle of the shutdown as well as the Trump administration’s refusal to use emergency funds on federal food assistance.
Duckworth also gave her take on the ICE raids happening in Chicagoland and elsewhere in Illinois as well as changes to the armed forces under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Interview Highlights
On the federal immigration enforcement in Illinois:
“I want convicted felons, I want violent criminals taken off, off our streets. But DHS’s own data says that of all the people that they have grabbed and detained, less than 13% have been felons or violent criminals, less than 13% … they need to stop going after preschool teachers and the tamale lady from the Home Depot parking lot, and they need to start going after the real bad guys-those felons. Go focus on them. Get them out of the country.”
On SNAP funding amid the government shutdown:
“As someone who grew up relying on food stamps … I know what it’s like to go hungry. I know what it’s like to go into the grocery store and, you know, with your last five bucks, try to stretch that to cover a week’s worth of sandwiches. And I got to tell you, [President Trump has] got $6 billion in a contingency fund, and he’s choosing not to -not to spend it on our most hungry and our most vulnerable.”
On reduction in air traffic due to the shutdown:
“We’re in a place where they are going to have to slow down the number of aircraft that can take off and land and be in the airspace. We do need to keep our airspace safe. And I know people who’ve already started canceling their flights and deciding that they’re just going to drive instead, or just maybe they won’t fly someplace over Thanksgiving. And you know, people have to make those individual decisions themselves, but I am on the side of safety. And if … slowing down the number of aircrafts that can land and take off will help keep the flying public safe, then I would support that.”
On plans to mark the 21st anniversary of her Alive Day:
“I call each one of the of my buddies and thank them for saving my life, and tell them that I wake up every day trying to honor the sacrifices they made to save me and I and try to honor, you know, with what I do every day here, and I’ll explain to them why we can’t get together this year, because I’m actually here trying to trying to live up to that honor.”