The Senate won’t be holding votes this weekend on reopening the federal government as was initially anticipated, as some Republican senators will probably be attending a high-dollar fundraising retreat for the Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) on Georgia’s Sea Island.
The timing of the fundraising committee’s fall assembly is awkward for senators; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has urged his GOP colleagues to not maintain fundraisers in the course of the shutdown as a result of it may open them as much as political assaults.
The Senate Republicans’ weekend on the luxurious Sea Island Resort is a giant draw for Republican donors and lobbyists, giving them face time with necessary GOP policymakers.
An invite to the NRSC’s fall assembly lists “group rates” for rooms on the resort starting from $495 per evening for a Backyard Wing Room to $599 per evening for the Seaside Membership One Bed room Suite.
And the resort itself is a mecca for golf lovers, that includes three immaculately curated golf programs, a spa and health heart and a picturesque white sand seaside.
Republican senators are often anticipated to attend the fundraising weekend, which is an annual NRSC occasion, however they aren’t required to take action.
This yr, nevertheless, some Republican senators are nervous concerning the political optics of hanging out at a complicated resort whereas the federal government is shut down, and a few GOP lawmakers are eager about altering their plans to skip it completely, in accordance with sources acquainted with the behind-the-scenes hand-wringing.
One individual acquainted with the difficulty stated NRSC Chair Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is lobbying GOP colleagues to indicate up on the retreat, which has been deliberate for months.
The occasion was contracted years prematurely, and its prices can’t be refunded.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.), who’s locked in a standoff with Democratic leaders over reopening authorities, nevertheless, isn’t thrilled with the prospect of Republican senators mingling with donors at a high-end resort whereas 1000’s of federal staff have been furloughed and will miss their subsequent paychecks, in accordance with the supply.
Johnson shares Thune’s concern and instructed his Republican colleagues earlier this week to not maintain fundraisers in the course of the shutdown. He doesn’t need Democrats to make use of such occasions as political ammo, feeling that Republicans now have the excessive floor within the standoff.
Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) stated he doesn’t plan to attend the NRSC’s fall assembly as a result of he will probably be touring again to Utah.
“I don’t know that there’s a perfect answer for me. I won’t be going there,” he stated, referring to the Sea Island occasion. “Utah has had a couple of situations — one was the shooting at the [Mormon] church in Michigan, the other was the death of the president of the church. Because of that, I’m going to be going home to attend his funeral.”
Curtis cautioned that Republicans should be “sensitive” about how their actions are perceived throughout a shutdown.
“I told the clerk to stop my salary. I just think it’s very important that we’re sensitive to things,” he stated, revealing his determination to forgo a congressional wage in the course of the shutdown.
The Senate isn’t anticipated to carry any votes over the weekend after voting 3 times this week on the Home-passed authorities funding invoice.
A spokesperson for the NRSC stated Democratic obstruction to funding the federal government is a much bigger subject.
“While Schumer shuts down the government to give free healthcare to illegals, Republicans are united. The NRSC retreat’s record attendance shows Republicans are focused on one mission: protecting and growing President Trump’s Senate Majority,” Joanna Rodriguez stated.
Folks planning to attend the weekend occasion acquired an electronic mail from the NRSC on Thursday blasting Democrats for the shutdown. The e-mail highlighted the NRSC’s advert attacking Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) for voting with Schumer and defined, “These events are reserved and contracted years in advance — beyond even our current term at the NRSC — and both our costs and attendees’ rooms are non-refundable.”
Republican sources additionally level out Senate Democrats are scheduled to carry a fundraising retreat subsequent weekend, when the federal government should be shuttered.
