Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) cited the potential impact on in-state military installations as well as the Department of Energy’s Nevada National Security Site as her reason for supporting a Republican-led continuing resolution Tuesday night.
“A government shutdown would force tens of thousands of Nevada military personnel, union members, law enforcement agents and military nurses to work without pay,” Cortez Masto said in a press release. “Additionally, hundreds of union contractors at the Nevada National Security Site and across the state will be out of work for the duration of a shutdown and will not receive pay.”
“I cannot support a costly shutdown that would hurt Nevada families and hand even more power to this reckless administration,” Cortez Masto said shortly after being one of two Democrats to support the failed continuing resolution.
Sixty votes were needed to pass the continuing resolution and avoid a government shutdown. The final vote was 55-to-45. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) was the other Democrat to support the Republican majority bill. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) who typically votes with the Democrats, also backed the bill.
“We need a bipartisan solution to address this impending health care crisis, but we should not be swapping the pain of one group of Americans for another,” Cortez Masto said.