Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) got called out on Friday for a tweet claiming that Republican leadership would end the ongoing government shutdown.
“In an alternate universe where Republicans still held the House, the government would be open, federal workers would have their paychecks, and Border Patrol would have the funding and tools they need. Just something to think about,” Crenshaw tweeted Friday.
In an alternate universe where Republicans still held the House, the government would be open, federal workers would have their paychecks, and Border Patrol would have the funding and tools they need.
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) January 11, 2019
Just something to think about.
As many on Twitter pointed out, Republicans held the House and Senate when the shutdown began.
https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1083833793465802755
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/1083823681154048000
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/1083823711298428934
You know this shutdown began when Republicans still held the House, right?
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) January 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/9toed_Viking/status/1083839751088754688
how do you figure? This shutdown started with Republicans in control of all three branches of government….
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 11, 2019
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) shot back, too.
Um, that wasn't an alternate universe. That was last month.
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) January 11, 2019
Oh wait …
Some pointed out that Crenshaw might have missed the lead-up to the shutdown because he was busy with other endeavors.
https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1083838223741345793
https://twitter.com/TylerDinucci/status/1083823791556313088
Crenshaw appeared on Saturday Night Live in November after cast member Pete Davidson made a joke about his eye patch.
As the partial shutdown moves into its 22nd day, government employees continue to work without payment, as the Associated Press reported Friday, and division over President Donald Trump’s border wall continues. Crenshaw has said that he will not take a Congressional salary until federal workers are paid again.
I cannot in good conscience get paid while federal employees’ financial futures hang in the balance because of this partial government shutdown. I’ve asked the Chief Administrative Officer to withhold my pay until we have come to an agreement to adequately fund border security. pic.twitter.com/2g37vAAtx2
— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) January 10, 2019
The two houses of Congress, despite both having Republican majorities at the time, could not pass a funding bill in December. A bill to fund the government could not pass the Senate without some Democratic votes, which did not materialize by the Dec. 21 vote.
The logic behind Crenshaw’s tweet is unclear; multiple attempts to reach Crenshaw for comment were unsuccessful.