Thune to Keep Senate Meeting Until Shutdown by Schumer is Resolved

Senate Remains in Session Amid Continued Government Shutdown

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has stated that the Senate will stay in session until a government funding agreement is finalized. This decision comes as the shutdown reached its 39th day, with the senators not set to return home just yet.

Though the House passed a clean continuing resolution (CR) in September to keep the government open until November 21, the Senate chose to remain out over the weekend. Democrats have halted the bill’s progress, which has now extended the shutdown to the longest in U.S. history. The House is currently not in session, waiting on the Senate to act on the previously passed CR, leading to a heightened focus on Senate developments.

Democratic senators, spearheaded by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), have blocked the CR from advancing in the House on 15 occasions. A potential 16th attempt could be made as soon as Sunday, with Thune exploring new strategies to engage reluctant Democrats.

Only three Republicans supported efforts to reopen the government: Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-N.M.), and Sen. Angus King (I-Maine).

Democrats initiated the shutdown to stimulate a national conversation on health care, believing they held an advantage over Republicans in promoting their position as the off-year election approaches.

Although election outcomes bolstered the Senate Democratic Caucus’s determination, there were indications prior to the election that some Democrats were considering breaking ranks.

Thune and the Republicans have suggested a guarantee to vote on extending the Obamacare premium subsidy for coronavirus relief, a topic Democrats had recently secured as part of negotiations to reopen the government. In response, Schumer proposed a one-year extension of these subsidies to keep the health care matter at the forefront through the midterms.