On Wednesday, Democrats attempted to stall a vote on a temporary spending bill intended to reopen the government. This marks the twelfth time the Senate has addressed this bill since the government shut down on October 1.
Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon kicked off an almost 24-hour speech on Tuesday at 6:23 PM, wrapping it up the following day at 5 PM. During his lengthy address, he raised concerns about authoritarian approaches under the Trump administration, suggesting that emergency situations could lead to expanded governmental powers. “We’re in a situation where we’ve got an authoritarian government, a Congress that pretty much just agrees with it, and a judicial system that’s boosting the executive’s authority,” he commented.
Merkley criticized the Republican strategy, claiming they’ve shut down the government as part of an effort to cut health care for Americans. This speech occurred amid ongoing discussions about federal funding for 2026, with House Republicans having managed to pass a temporary funding bill to maintain operations until November 21, while Senate Democrats have consistently rejected it over a dozen times.
Once again, the Senate fell short during a vote on Wednesday, which ended in a 54-46 rejection. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are advocating for an extension of additional funding for Obamacare health subsidies that are scheduled to expire in 2025.
Challenges arise as Republicans need support from seven Democrats to surpass the 60-vote requirement to break a filibuster. Currently, they hold 53 seats in the House. Merkley’s speech came closer to breaking a record previously set by Senator Cory Booker, whose speech lasted 25 hours and four minutes earlier this year. Booker, in support of Merkley, emphasized the need to uphold democracy and combat authoritarian tactics.
Merkley’s critique delved deep into the issue of authoritarianism and warned against expanding executive power, particularly regarding the deployment of the National Guard in urban areas. He remarked, “If the conditions for defining an insurrection are blurred, and a president can send troops against peaceful protesters, it essentially opens a pathway to tyranny.”
Recently, President Trump has deployed the National Guard to various cities, including Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, Memphis, and Portland, asserting the necessity to protect law enforcement and government functions in those regions.
