The US government shutdown stretched into its 40th day yesterday even as senators stayed in Washington for a grueling weekend session hoping to find an end to the funding fight that has disrupted flights nationwide, threatened food assistance for millions of Americans and left federal workers without pay.
The US Senate has so far shown few signs of progress over a weekend that could be crucial for the shutdown fight. Republican leaders are hoping to hold votes on a new package of bills that would reopen the government into January while also approving full-year funding for several parts of government, but the necessary Democratic support for that effort was far from guaranteed.
“We’re only a handful of votes away” from passing a bill to reopen the government, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on Saturday.
Photo: Getty Images via AFP
Still, Democratic leaders are pushing hard for an extension of subsidies for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have rejected that offer, but signaled openness to an emerging proposal from a small group of moderate Democrats to end the shutdown in exchange for a later vote on the “Obamacare” subsidies, which make coverage more affordable.
For those enrolled in Affordable Care Act exchanges, premiums are on average expected to more than double next year if the US Congress allows the enhanced subsidies to lapse.
Senator Bernie Sanders said the pledge to hold a vote on extending the healthcare subsidies would be a “wasteful gesture” unless “you have the commitment of the speaker of the House that he will support it and that the president of the United States will sign it.”
US President Donald Trump has made clear he is unlikely to compromise any time soon. He pressed Republicans again over the weekend to get rid of the Senate’s filibuster rules that prevent the chamber from advancing on most legislation unless there is support from 60 senators.
Democrat Senator Jeanne Shaheen and others, negotiating among themselves and with some rank-and-file Republicans, have been discussing bills that would pay for parts of government — food aid, veterans programs and the legislative branch, among other things — and extend funding for everything else until next month or January. The agreement would only come with the promise of a future healthcare vote, rather than a guarantee of extended subsidies.
It was unclear whether enough Democrats would support such a plan. Even with a deal, Trump appears unlikely to support an extension of the health benefits. House Speaker Mike Johnson also last week said that he would not commit to a health vote.
Republican leaders only need five additional votes to fund the government, and the group involved in the talks has ranged from 10 to 12 Democratic senators.
Some Republicans have said they are open to extending the COVID-19 pandemic-era tax credits, as premiums could skyrocket for millions of people, but they want new limits on who can receive the subsidies. They lined up on Saturday to take to the Senate floor and argue that subsidies for the plans should be routed through individuals.
“We’re going to replace this broken system with something that is actually better for the consumer,” Senator Lindsey Graham said.
Trump wants Republicans to end the shutdown quickly and scrap the filibuster so they can bypass Democrats altogether. US Vice President JD Vance endorsed the idea on social media on Saturday, saying Republicans who want to keep the filibuster are “wrong.”
Republicans have rejected Trump’s call, and Thune is eyeing a bipartisan package that mirrors the proposal the moderate Democrats have been sketching out. What Thune, who has refused to negotiate, might promise on healthcare is unknown.
The package would replace the House-passed legislation that the Democrats have rejected 14 times since the shutdown began Oct. 1. The current bill would only extend government funding until Nov. 21.
A test vote on new legislation could come in the next few days if Thune decides to move forward.
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