Senate Republicans are increasingly worried about the precedent being set by Senate Democrats amid the ongoing government shutdown, which has now stretched into its 20th day.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his Democratic colleagues have been vocal about their push for an extension of expired Obamacare subsidies, attempting to shift the focus from a funding dispute to a healthcare debate.
However, it’s been more than three weeks since Schumer and the Democrats halted the House Republicans’ initial effort to pass a continuing resolution. There has been little indication that the Democrats are willing to soften their stance.
“I believe Mr. Schumer has effectively undermined the Senate’s integrity,” remarked Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida) in a conversation with Fox News Digital. “He’s done it before, whether through his treatment of candidates or this shutdown. It’s like he’s let the government spiral out of control. I hope we don’t keep functioning this way.”
Conversations between the two parties have fluctuated throughout the shutdown, but there’s been no progress since the initial vote was turned down late last month.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) has been part of these discussions but noted this week that they seem to be fizzling out. When asked about the potential for Democrats to take a similar stance in future negotiations, he replied, “I can’t be concerned about the Democrats’ perspective.”
“It just doesn’t add up,” he added. “If there was a clear strategy, we could explore ways to move forward. But there’s no real plan; it seems like a total breakdown.”
Currently, Senate Republicans view the Democrats’ approach during the government shutdown as a form of hostage-taking, feeling negotiations can’t proceed until the government is up and running again.
“We can’t have genuine discussions until we get through this shutdown,” Sen. John Hoeven (R) conveyed to FOX News Digital. “Holding the government hostage is unacceptable. We’ve indicated our willingness to address various issues, but negotiations can’t include shutdown tactics.”
While Republicans assert that serious negotiations are lacking, informal talks led to a potential compromise from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D., who hinted at proposing a vote on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credit if Democrats agree to reopen the government.
But attempts to restore government function for the tenth time on Thursday were blocked, as were efforts to discuss the annual defense spending bill hours later.
In both instances, Democrats sought assurances that Thune and the Republicans could not provide.
“Democrats might someday look back on this decision with regret because we’ve been advocating for a transparent spending process,” Thune noted while speaking to Fox News Digital. “It’s a shame, but this is the situation we’re in. I hope they reconsider and see that it’s in everyone’s interest to reopen the government and return to the conventional funding process.”
Many Republicans are optimistic that Senate Democrats might reconsider after the “No Kings” rally in Washington, D.C., last weekend.
Yet, some believe this could simply serve as an opportunity for Congressional Democrats to demonstrate they are standing against President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
“Typically, rewarding negative behavior leads to more of it,” commented Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) to FOX News Digital. “That’s the approach Democrats are taking. They seem to act as though President Trump wasn’t elected last November. At its core, that’s what this conflict is about: appeasing those who are protesting on Saturday.”
