Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) denounced Senate Democrats in a recent video for prolonging the government shutdown, claiming that "the American people are not your leverage."
"We are not talking about a difference in policy, we are talking about a difference in values," Rep. Mast began, highlighting how he voted in favor of the continuing resolution (CR), which keeps the government open and pays federal employees.
"And they even tell us why they do it," Rep. Mast continues in the video. "They want to use the American people as leverage."
The Florida Congressman referenced comments from House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), who said that "shutdowns are terrible, and of course there will be, you know, families that are going to suffer." "We take that responsibility very seriously, but it is one of the few leverage times we have," Rep. Clark added.
In response, Mast shared a message for Democrats, asserting that "the American people are not your leverage, and you should not be using them as your pawns."
The Florida Congressman previously suggested Democrats have fundamentally different values from Republicans during an appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria in October. "The juxtaposition to this is Democrats looking to say, 'How can we spend an additional trillion and a half dollars between now and the week before Thanksgiving on those ridiculous programs like the ones that you just pointed out?' That is the difference in values," he argued.
Moreover, Mast claimed that Democrats act solely in opposition to President Donald Trump.
"I think it is about them just wanting to oppose anything that President Trump is doing, anything," Mast assessed. "If [the White House] is cutting spending, they want to oppose that. It does not matter. There will be an opposition."
