The government shutdown stretched into its 40th day Sunday even as senators held a weekend session in hopes of finding an end to the impasse that has disrupted flights nationwide, threatened food assistance for millions of Americans and left Federal employees not receiving their salaries.
TL;DR
- Government shutdown enters 40th day with no end in sight for federal employees.
- Republicans reject Democrats' health insurance relief demands, focus on funding government.
- Moderate Democrats propose ending shutdown for a future vote on Obamacare subsidies.
- President Trump urges Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster to bypass Democrats.
The Senate has demonstrated minimal advancement throughout a weekend that might prove pivotal in the shutdown dispute. GOP leaders aim to schedule votes on legislation that would restart government operations through January, alongside approving complete fiscal year funding for various government sectors. Securing the required Democratic backing for that initiative was far from certain.
“We’re only a handful of votes away” from passing legislation to reopen the government, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Saturday.
The Democratic Party is strongly advocating for an extension of financial aid for health insurance plans available through the Affordable Care Act's marketplace. Republicans have rejected that offer, but signaled openness to an emerging proposal from a small group of moderate Democrats to end the shutdown in exchange for a later vote on the “Obamacare” subsidies that make Making it cheaper.
Health exchange enrollees may see their premiums more than double next year if Congress permits the enhanced subsidies to expire.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent aligning with Democrats, stated that the promise to vote on extending subsidies would be a “wasteful gesture” without the House Speaker's assurance that he would Support it, and the President of the United States will sign it.
President Donald Trump has indicated he's not expected to reach any agreements shortly. On Sunday, he urged Republicans again to eliminate the Senate’s filibuster rules that hinder the chamber's progress on most legislation without the backing of 60 senators. “Be the Smart Party,” he said in a social media post.
Moderates continue to negotiate
Senator. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and colleagues have been talking about legislation designed to fund certain government functions, such as food assistance, veteran services, and the legislative branch, while also continuing appropriations for all other areas. Throughout December or January. The agreement would only come with the promise of a future health care vote.
It remained uncertain if sufficient Democrats would back such a proposal. Even with a deal, Trump appears unlikely to support an extension of the health benefits. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he would not commit to a health vote.
Republican leaders in the Senate only need five additional votes to fund the government, and the group involved in the talks has ranged from 10 to 12 Democratic senators.
Some Republicans have said they are open to extending the COVID-19-era tax credits as premiums could skyrocket for millions of people, but they want new limits on who can receive the subsidies. They lined up Saturday to take to the Senate floor and argue that subsidies for the plans should be routed through individuals.
“We’re going to replace this broken system with something that is actually better for the consumer,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
“THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE,” Trump termed it in a post Sunday.
Republicans eye new package of bills
Trump wants Republicans to end the shutdown quickly and scrap the filibuster so they can bypass Democrats altogether. Vice President JD Vance, a former Ohio senator, said Republicans who want to keep the filibuster are “wrong.”
But Republicans have rejected Trump’s call, with Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., telling NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that because of the filibuster, “the Senate is the only place in our government where both sides have to talk to each other. That’s a good thing for America.”
Thune is eyeing a bipartisan package that mirrors the proposal the moderate Democrats have been sketching out. What Thune, who has refused to negotiate, might promise on health care is unknown.
The package would replace the House-passed legislation that the Democrats have rejected 14 times since the shutdown began Oct. 1. The current bill would only extend government funding until Nov. 21.
A choice for Democrats
A test vote on new legislation could come in the next few days if Thune decides to move forward.
Then Democrats would face a critical decision: Continue advocating for a substantial agreement to extend the subsidies, which expire in January, thereby extending the shutdown's hardship? Alternatively, vote to reopen the government and hope for the best, as Republicans have pledged a future vote on healthcare, though its success isn't assured.
Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer argues Republicans should accept a one-year extension of the subsidies before negotiating the future of the tax credits.
“Doing nothing is derelict because people will go bankrupt, people will lose insurance, people will get sicker,” Schumer said in a floor speech Saturday. “That’s what will happen if this Congress fails to act.”
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Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim, Joey Cappelletti, Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.