Chuck Schumer holds firm, rejecting calls to quit as top Senate Democrat

By Ryan Patrick Jones

March 23 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday dismissed calls from some Democratic lawmakers for him to step down as leader in the Senate over his approach to a recently passed government funding bill.

Schumer sparked anger among Democrats last week when he decided not to block a Republican-drafted spending bill that many in the party said gave President Donald Trump, a Republican, too much power.

"Look, I'm not stepping down," Schumer told NBC's "Meet the Press."

Schumer said while the spending bill was "certainly bad" and that he had anticipated his support for it would stir controversy, the other option had been to let the government shut down, which would have been "15 or 20 times worse."

Schumer said during a shutdown the executive branch had sole power to determine what government functions and employees were essential. In such a scenario, Schumer argued, Trump, his cost-cutting adviser Elon Musk and budget chief Russ Vought could "eviscerate the federal government."

Schumer's decision to side with Republicans outraged Democrats in Congress and progressive groups, and highlighted the party's struggles as it is shut out of power in Washington.

Several Democrats in the House of Representatives, including Representatives Glenn Ivey and Delia Ramirez, suggested he step aside, according to Politico.

NPR reported on Thursday that while Democratic Senator Michael Bennet of Colorado stopped short of calling for Schumer to quit, he told a town hall that "it's important for people to know when it's time to go."

Schumer dismissed criticism on "Meet the Press" from former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he gave away Democratic leverage for nothing, arguing what they achieved was avoiding the "horror" of a government shutdown.