Government Shutdown Update

As the 15th effort to reopen the government approaches, Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) shared his doubts with the press regarding a quick resolution to the ongoing 38-day government shutdown, which casts a shadow over prior optimistic expectations that the matter could be settled this week.

“It’s going to take at least seven days, probably more like 10 or even two weeks before we see some progress,” Kennedy remarked.

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He noted that he anticipates Democrats will remain united against a proposed short-term spending extension. “It seems that the Democratic senators involved in talks are leaning toward voting against the bill, particularly considering the more progressive members who have committed to not supporting it again,” he added.

Although not directly part of the negotiation process, Kennedy’s comments followed a private discussion with his fellow GOP senators regarding the shutdown. The shutdown began in early October when Democratic leaders, like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, dismissed a short-term funding bill from Republicans. They insisted that lawmakers first tackle the expiring health subsidies associated with Obamacare—initially introduced as a temporary measure during the pandemic.

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Republicans have firmly pushed back against these demands, arguing that the health subsidies are unrelated to government funding issues. According to a nonpartisan fiscal policy think tank, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, maintaining these subsidies could exceed an annual cost of $30 billion unless addressed.

Now, more than a month into the shutdown, Kennedy remarked that while some senators may be open to discussing the subsidy issue, substantial obstacles remain until the government reopens. “Republicans won’t approve a straightforward extension of Obamacare subsidies,” he clarified. “We’re open to making changes, but we are not inclined to concede to the Democrats’ full demands.”

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In a recent discussion, Kennedy reflected on prior conversations with Democrats, emphasizing their insistence on a vote regarding Obamacare subsidies, suggesting that if this occurs, the shutdown will likely be prolonged. “If they insist on that, we could be in for a lengthy shutdown,” he noted.

The Senate is set to vote on a Republican short-term spending extension on Friday. There’s still some uncertainty about whether the Senate will remain in session or if it will adjourn for the weekend, especially with upcoming plans for Veterans Day next week.