Hope that the government shutdown might wrap up this week seems to have faded on Capitol Hill. Senate Democrats, in particular, are holding their ground regarding an extension of Obamacare subsidies.
During another lengthy, closed-door lunch on Thursday, the Democrats signaled that they are united as the shutdown stretches into its 37th day. Republicans, meanwhile, are pushing for a deal to get the government running again.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) expressed optimism following a recent successful election for Democrats against Republicans. There have been some bipartisan discussions between centrist Democrats and Republicans about possibly moving forward, but the majority of the Democratic caucus seems ready to stay the course.
In light of this, some Democrats framed their argument around unity and the urgency of reopening government services. “It’s not about just holding out,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). “We’re advocating for healthcare access for millions. Affordable healthcare is critical for American families, and they made that clear in the recent elections.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R) intends to bring the previously passed House continuing resolution (CR) to the floor on Friday, likely to see if Democrats will budge. However, it’s anticipated that the attempt will meet resistance once more.
Thune insists that issues concerning Obamacare will be addressed after the government resumes operations. He has suggested that Senate Democrats should cast their votes on the matter, which, for now, is also expected to fall short.
Senate Democrats are not just standing firm on their position; they’re also calling for President Donald Trump to engage and negotiate on expiring aid. They’ve dismissed previous comments from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who said he wouldn’t commit to a vote on the matter.
“Mike Johnson will do what Trump tells him to do—Trump basically declared himself the Speaker of the House,” stated Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
On the Republican side, there’s a glimmer of hope that Senate Democrats might eventually agree to combine the CR with a few spending bills to kickstart the government funding process.
Thune mentioned during a press conference, “I think we can find a clear path forward on this matter. We need to solve this, get the government back running, and indeed head over to the White House to discuss it. However, we have a hostage situation here, and the repercussions are becoming clearer.”
As the weekend approaches, there’s also the question of whether the Senate will take a break before the Veterans Day recess next week. Democrats seem keen to continue discussions, but Republicans are hesitant unless there are clear indications of progress.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) noted, “We anticipate we’ll be here through the weekend.”
