Republican leaders slammed Democrats on Sunday following reports that around 30 Democratic members of Congress traveled to Puerto Rico this weekend to meet with lobbyists and see a special performance of the hit Broadway show “Hamilton.”
While the Democrats also planned on attending the Congressional Hispanic Caucus BOLD PAC gathering in San Juan and met with Puerto Rican officials to discuss ongoing clean-up efforts from Hurricane Maria, Republicans were angered over images of their Democratic colleagues enjoying the island’s beaches as the partial government shutdown entered its third week.
Related: Hillary on the Partial Gov’t Shutdown: ‘Americans Can’t Afford Another Day’
“Democrats in Congress are so alarmed about federal workers not getting paid they’re partying on the beach instead of negotiating a compromise to reopen the government and secure the border,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted Sunday morning.
Democrats in Congress are so alarmed about federal workers not getting paid they’re partying on the beach instead of negotiating a compromise to reopen the government and secure the borderhttps://t.co/zpJypJ2Slq
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 13, 2019
GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel also lambasted the Democrats in Puerto Rico for “hitting the beach and partying with lobbyists” in a tweet on Sunday.
“While [President Trump] is in D.C. working to resolve the government shutdown and secure our border, Democrats are hitting the beach and partying with lobbyists,” McDaniel tweeted.
While @realDonaldTrump is in DC working to resolve the government shutdown and secure our border, Democrats are hitting the beach and partying with lobbyists.https://t.co/SJBr0tV3H8
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) January 12, 2019
Around 109 lobbyists and corporate executives are named in a memo welcoming the guests to the seaside resort in Puerto Rico.
Among those attending are members of some from prominent Washington firms as well as representatives from R.J. Reynolds, Facebook, Comcast, Amazon, PhRMA, Microsoft, Intel, Verizon, and unions like the National Education Association.
“This year’s winter retreat promises to be our most widely attended yet with over 220 guests, including 39 Members of Congress and CHC BOLD PAC supporters expected to attend and participate!” a planning memo said.
A spokesman for the BOLD PAC — part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus — would not tell the Washington Examiner which members of Congress would be attending.
But Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was spotted on the beach Saturday, according to a Fox News producer.
Spotted: Sen. Bob Menendez on the beach at a resort in Puerto Rico on Day 22 of the partial government shutdown. Reports say dozens of Dems are in PR for the CHC BOLD PAC winter retreat — including meetings on Maria cleanup, and a party with PR’s “Hamilton” cast. pic.twitter.com/6FaBYKPo4L
— David McAlpine (@DavidMcAlpine) January 12, 2019
The Dems’ visit comes amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.
It has left around 800,000 federal workers with no pay since it began December 22, making it the longest government closure in U.S. history.
“I’m not even in government and I’d get killed in the press if I was on vacation right now,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted.
“Why won’t they cover their Democrat buddies lobbyist sponsored vacation in the islands???”
And of course no one says anything. I’m not even in government and I’d get killed in the press if I was on vacation right now. Why won’t they cover their democrat buddies lobbyist sponsored vacation in the islands??? https://t.co/EC63O8WiYy
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) January 13, 2019
President Donald Trump has refused to sign spending bills for nine of the 15 Cabinet-level departments until Congress approves his request for $5.7 billion in funding to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Democrats have refused.
The president initially said he would be “proud” to own the partial shutdown, but he quickly shifted blame onto Democratic leaders and has flirted with taking some extraordinary measures to find money for the wall.
Although most Republicans have stood by the president, others have expressed discomfort with the strategy.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano and the Associated Press contributed to this Fox News report, which is used by permission.
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