The federal government is now in its third day of shutdown without any clear solution in sight for a short-term funding extension. On Friday, lawmakers will once again cast votes for the GOP’s continuing resolution, alongside a counter-proposal from Congressional Democrats. Notably, movement on Capitol Hill has been minimal lately, as some lawmakers have either left Washington or opted not to show up.
In fact, just a few lawmakers spoke amid mostly empty Senate chambers during a brief session on Thursday.
Democrats appear unfazed in their struggle regarding the implications of Obamacare as the shutdown continues. Senate Republicans hope that some Senate Democrats might shift and support their funding bill, but that seems unlikely. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and most of his colleagues remain firm that they must now address the expiration of the Obamacare tax credit.
Senate Majority Leader John Toon has indicated he does not plan to keep lawmakers in town over the weekend if the House GOP’s bill fails for the fourth time. However, there are ongoing bipartisan discussions among various members aimed at finding a way to reopen the government.
“I’m glad people are talking about it,” Toon noted, adding that he believes many Democrats want a resolution. Schumer is busy working on his current plans, and there’s hope this will lead somewhere. But ultimately, it all hinges on starting with what I said before—reopening the government.
Amidst the negotiations, some proposals are being tossed around between Senate Republicans and Democrats. One idea includes agreeing to work on grants through November 21 under the GOP plan, or perhaps a short-term continuing resolution that coincides with the start of the Obamacare enrollment period on November 1.
“We’re not asking for a total overhaul of a flawed system,” stated Sen. Elizabeth Warren. “We know the healthcare system is struggling, but things will worsen if Republicans continue down this path of cutting healthcare for millions.”
Toon rejected the latter proposal, questioning the logic of a month-long plan compared to seven weeks. Schumer has expressed hope for bipartisan negotiations on a fundraising extension, though the GOP contends that their bill, which has the backing of President Trump, will facilitate future negotiations on spending.
On the flip side, Republicans argue that some of the claims regarding negotiations seem more focused on political optics than finding a genuine resolution to the shutdown. Senator Roger Marshall expressed this frustration, alleging that the current shutdown is a political maneuver orchestrated by Schumer and his more extreme leftist colleagues.
Despite lower-level discussions, some believe that the final decision about the next steps may ultimately rest with Trump. Senator Amy Klobuchar lamented that Republican colleagues have not fully collaborated to forge a bipartisan deal aimed at averting government shutdowns and addressing the health crisis.
“Even when they’re discussing ideas, it’s clear that the president seems to have the final say,” Klobuchar remarked.
