In a rare split among Hawaii’s senators, Sen. Brian Schatz and Sen. Mazie Hirono took opposing positions on a short-term spending bill necessary to avoid a government shutdown. Senate Democrats were initially poised to filibuster the bill as a show of resistance to the Trump administration’s actions to gut federal departments. However, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer ultimately considered passing the bill as the lesser of two evils to prevent a shutdown. Sen. Schatz was among 10 Democratic senators who voted in favor of moving the bill forward for a vote. He expressed that a shutdown would be more devastating for Hawaii residents. On the other hand, Sen. Hirono stood firm in her opposition to the bill, blaming Republicans for forcing a choice between a partisan CR and a shutdown. She criticized Republicans for prioritizing pleasing Donald Trump over protecting the American people. The bill ultimately passed with 54-46 votes, with Sen. Schatz siding with the majority. In a statement, Sen. Hirono emphasized the importance of resisting the administration at every turn. This split among the senators reflects the larger tensions within the Democratic party on how to navigate the current political landscape dominated by the Trump administration.
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