Government Shutdowns Continue as Senate Votes Again
The government shutdown isn’t coming to an end today. However, the Senate is gearing up for its sixth round of test votes, aiming to break the filibuster with competing plans from both Democrats and Republicans. It’s worth noting that 60 votes are needed for this to pass.
Interestingly, the vote is expected to occur late at night or around midnight. There’s some casual, but bipartisan chatter among senators about potentially resolving the shutdown, though Senator Tim Kaine from Virginia mentioned they might be at an impasse right now.
And speaking of the atmosphere, the unsettling red and orange hues in the sky were quite noticeable over Capitol Hill while it was closed.
Concerns are mounting among lawmakers about government workers who are currently unpaid. The name of former President Donald Trump came up in conversation yesterday. House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune seem to believe, or at least hope, that these workers will get paid eventually.
Johnson has hinted at the possibility of passing special measures to ensure service members and air traffic controllers receive compensation. However, that would necessitate the House reconvening. Johnson has stated his intention to keep the House adjourned until Senate Democrats agree to the GOP’s funding proposal. It’s unclear whether he’ll bring the House back before the shutdown concludes.
A critical deadline looms for salary payments to military personnel and air traffic controllers, which is set for October 13.
On another note, Senate Republicans have confirmed over 100 candidates endorsed by Trump as the shutdown continues to unfold.
There’s a rising concern among lawmakers about the aviation sector and its impact on safety. This brings to mind the last major government shutdown that occurred between 2018 and 2019, which was largely tied to issues in aviation.
Moreover, there are worries about agricultural payments affecting millions of acres in the U.S., complicating things further as Congress is two years behind in advancing the farm bill. The current shutdown is making that delay even more difficult.
Interestingly, some Republicans are beginning to warm up to Democratic initiatives to expand Obamacare subsidies, which have been a sticking point for Democrats. It’s a notable shift, considering the Republican Party has been opposed to Obamacare for the past 16 years. Now, there’s a surprising advocacy from some Republicans for increasing funding under this program.
