Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is pushing for a short-term funding extension that aims to corner Senate Democrats, but the two sides remain at a stalemate. Both parties in the Senate blocked attempts to advance continuing resolutions (CRs) last week, leaving lawmakers with only two working days before the midnight funding deadline on September 30.
Senate Republicans have introduced a “clean” extension that would last until November 21 without any partisan policy riders. Thune insists this is precisely what Democrats would have supported if they still held the majority in the Senate. “It’s everything they dreamed of when they controlled the upper chamber,” he stated. However, Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), are demanding to be part of any negotiation process. They argue that expiring Obamacare premium subsidies must be prioritized now rather than postponed until the end of the year.
“They’re trying to use what they think is leverage to get a bunch of stuff done,” Thune commented on the Democrats’ approach. He described their proposal as unserious, which included a permanent extension of Obamacare subsidies, cuts to funding for public broadcasting, and a repeal of important healthcare provisions from past legislation. “It’s just a cold-blooded partisan political attempt to try and score political points with a left-wing base,” he added.
While Thune has not ruled out cutting the recess short, he looks to use the looming deadline as leverage against Senate Democrats. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) echoed this strategy by announcing that the House would not reconvene until after the funding deadline, demonstrating a united front among Republicans.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) criticized the Republicans for their approach, arguing they are deliberately creating an environment for a government shutdown. “A) they refuse to negotiate, and B) they’re sending us home for the week before the government shuts down,” he said. Murphy sees this as indicative of a planned government shutdown.
Democrats have placed much of the blame on Trump, asserting that his insistence on Republican-only support has sidelined them from the negotiating table. Schumer pointedly remarked, “They left town with no sign they want to avoid a shutdown in a week.” His call for negotiation has been met with resistance, as Republicans seem unmoved.
In a letter addressed to Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) pointed out that any partial shutdown would be Republicans’ responsibility, urging the former president to engage with them to find common ground. “It is now your obligation to meet with us directly to reach an agreement to keep the government open and address the Republican healthcare crisis,” they wrote, but Trump responded with skepticism, saying it wouldn’t likely change anything. “I think we could very well end up with a closed country for a period of time,” Trump remarked, reflecting his own doubts about avoiding a shutdown.
Challenges loom even within the Republican ranks. Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) dissented on the GOP’s bill, complicating matters for Thune. While Paul’s opposition was anticipated, Murkowski’s dissent highlights discontent within the party. “I want to project a message of something that can actually get us through this impasse,” she declared, advocating for a short-term CR that addresses previous appropriations.
The situation remains fluid, but the stark divide between the parties raises questions about whether a government shutdown can be avoided. As both sides dig in, the odds of reaching a bipartisan agreement seem slim. With time running out, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether lawmakers can find common ground or if they will be forced to confront the consequences of a government shutdown.
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