The Senate rejected another attempt to reopen the federal government on Monday, marking a three-week shutdown with both sides still at an impasse.
The vote was 50-43 against a continuing resolution that had previously been approved by the House of Representatives, which would have funded the government until the end of November. This proposal needed 60 votes to pass.
The only Republican to dissent was Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky.
This vote followed recent “No Kings” rallies held in Washington and various other locations, as Republicans had hoped for a breakthrough after those events.
However, it seems unlikely that the deadlock will end soon, potentially extending into the fourth week and into November.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York stated on the Senate floor that the Democrats’ stance remains unchanged.
“As we enter another week of this government shutdown initiated by Donald Trump, it seems Republicans are content with inaction and are okay with increasing health care premiums for over 20 million working and middle-class Americans,” Schumer remarked.
“Our nation is on the verge of a medical crisis, yet Republicans will spend this week either on vacation or enjoying a rally at the White House,” Schumer pointed out, highlighting that the House is currently in recess while Trump has a planned lunch with Senate Republicans. “Government employees must work without pay, but House Republicans earn a paycheck without doing their jobs.”
The core of the debate revolves around Democrats aiming to extend the expiring enhanced health care subsidies as a prerequisite for reopening the government, while Republicans remain hesitant to commit to this.
Republican leaders contend that discussions about tax credits can only occur once the shutdown concludes.
“It’s quite astonishing that the issues stemming from programs created by Democrats and the tax credits they chose to eliminate have become a crisis for Republicans,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated on the Senate floor. “The reality is, Republicans had nothing to do with this.”
“Democrats created Obamacare all on their own. They implemented the tax credit enhancements. And they set a sunset date specifically for those credits,” he continued. “It’s Democrats who are solely responsible for the Obamacare tax credit situation, yet they want to shift this crisis onto Republicans while simultaneously seeking relief from them.”
“It’s rather ironic,” he added.
