Nevada Congressman Mark Amodei the spotlight of a new ad as government shutdown looms

The League of Conservation Voters, Climate Power, and House Majority Forward released a television spot this week aimed at holding Representative Mark Amodei from Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District accountable, for his alleged support of a looming federal government shutdown that could happen as soon as Oct. 1.

“Just as the middle class is getting back on its feet, Mark Amodei wants to pull the rug out from under us. He sided with MAGA republicans who’ve threatened to shut down the government,” the video begins. 

The video hit the airwaves in Nevada on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

The 30-second ad focuses on Amodei’s votes to cut  health care, clean energy jobs, and Social Security earlier this year, and criticizes Republicans for steering the government towards a shutdown. The ad is part of a $500,000 campaign spread across eight districts, according to The League of Conservation Voters: https://youtu.be/7P9_XzKn-FQ

The ad campaign comes as Republicans in the House of Representatives have failed to agree on a new federal budget amongst themselves, let alone with Senate Democrats and Republicans and the White House. 

As part of negotiations, a group of House Republicans have called for huge spending cuts, including to childcare programs, Meals on Wheels and other food assistance efforts, education funding, loan programs for farmers, job training programs, and more. 

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has repeatedly tried to pass conservative budget proposals that accommodate some of those requests, even though such legislation would ultimately fail in the Senate. Even still, McCarthy has been unable to wrangle the necessary 218 votes to pass spending plans, and has thus far refused to work with House Democrats on a bipartisan deal.

“House Republicans are again showing they are willing to throw the country into chaos, risk their own districts’ future and the entire country’s economy–all to score points for Big Oil and MAGA extremists,” said Pete Maysmith, Senior Vice President for Campaigns at the League of Conservation Voters.

“We aren’t going to stop making sure these communities hear about the real costs families could feel, including an end to newly created jobs and higher costs, if Republicans in Congress, including their own representative, force an unnecessary and damaging shutdown or even more rollbacks.”

If a shutdown occurs, federal workers will be sent home without pay, tens of millions of Americans who rely on food aid from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will not get those benefits, environmental and food inspections could be delayed, and national parks like Death Valley will likely be closed.