Senate Democrats blocked another attempt by Republicans to reopen the government on Wednesday, marking the sixth effort in just eight days. While negotiations continue, clarity and direction remain elusive. Senators gathered for bipartisan talks over Thai food the night before, but the discussions yielded no conclusive plans to end the ongoing government shutdown.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., expressed frustration over the lack of progress, stating, “We’re not working on a solution to reopen the government. We’re not negotiating.” Mullin stressed the need for a clean continuing resolution (CR) that could prevent future shutdowns. Congressional Republicans maintain that passing their CR is essential, which would keep the government funded until November 21. The proposal also seeks to enhance security for lawmakers and rectify budget issues that the House overlooked earlier this year.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., remains resolute. He plans to push the same bill repeatedly, hoping to fracture the cohesiveness of the Democratic caucus. However, thus far, only a handful of Senate Democrats—Sen. John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada, and Sen. Angus King of Maine—have deviated from party lines.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., frames the Democrats’ stance around healthcare, particularly concerning expiring tax credits tied to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). “Nothing’s changed,” Thune remarked, emphasizing that Republicans are open to discussions but expect the Democrats to “take yes for an answer.”
Though the ACA subsidies do not expire until the end of the year, Democrats are alarmed about the impending open enrollment period, which begins on November 1. They argue that without congressional action, many Americans will face steep increases in their health insurance premiums. Schumer believes public pressure will force Republicans to negotiate. “We believe that the pressure that the American people are putting on the Republicans… are going to get them to come to the table,” he said, asserting a commitment to secure a beneficial deal for constituents.
However, Democrats’ proposal stretches beyond immediate funding needs. They are calling for a permanent extension of the ACA subsidies, constraints on potential funding cuts from the Trump administration, and the restoration of canceled funding for NPR and PBS. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., articulated this perspective, saying, “I want the ACA subsidies restored, but I also would be a sucker to vote for a budget that allows Trump to continue to get away with this level of corruption.”
In the backdrop of these negotiations loom threats from the administration, notably from Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought. He has reportedly withheld nearly $30 billion in infrastructure funding directed towards cities and states, alongside warnings that furloughed workers might not receive back pay. This stance contradicts a promise made by Trump in 2019 ensuring back pay for workers affected by shutdowns, a commitment that faced scrutiny following Vought’s directives.
Despite the administration’s tough talk, Senate Democrats seem unfazed. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., remarked, “I’m not sure Trump’s floating it. He’s got underlings who were floating submarining one of Donald Trump’s accomplishments.” Kaine added that it was Trump himself who provided what he called a “guarantee” regarding back pay for furloughed workers. “I hope he takes pride in his work,” he concluded, underscoring a determination to hold the administration accountable.
"*" indicates required fields
