WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are moving to end the government. shutdown He took the bold step of preparing a new bipartisan spending bill with Democrats voting in favor of it, but it was unclear whether the plan would work.
Many Democratic lawmakers said they would continue to support extending expiring health care subsidies, which were not expected to be included in the bill.
Senate Democrats, who have now voted against reopening the government 14 times, concluded their second caucus of the week on Thursday with little answers on whether they can ultimately find a compromise with Republicans, or even among themselves, on how to end the government shutdown.
Test voting on the new package has not yet been published, but could happen as early as Friday. If that happens, Democrats will have to make an important choice: Do they keep fighting for a meaningful agreement on an extension? medical subsidy Will the pain of closure linger while it expires in January? Or will they vote to reopen the government and hope for the best, since Republicans are promising an eventual health care vote but that outcome is not guaranteed?
encouraged overwhelmingly favorable election Earlier this week, many Democrats said the fight wasn’t over until Republicans and President Donald Trump negotiated an extension.
“That’s what leaders do,” said Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico. “You have the gavel, you have the majority, and you have to unite the people.”
Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz said Democrats are “obviously not unanimous,” but they do agree that “absent something on health care, the chances of a successful vote are very slim.”
Other Democrats are working on a deal to reopen the government simply by agreeing to a future vote on health care subsidies. Lawmakers from both parties felt there was a growing sense of urgency to alleviate the problem. A growing crisis at airports, pay salaries to civil servants and restore delayed food aid Millions of people are suffering from the world’s longest shutdown american history.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s decision Friday to keep the Senate in session, possibly through the weekend, came after President Trump urged Senate Republicans to end the shutdown at a White House breakfast on Wednesday. President Trump said he believes the six-week stalemate will be a “huge negative factor” for Republicans in Tuesday’s election.
New efforts to reopen the government
Thune’s proposed bipartisan package would fund some parts of the government, such as food aid, veterans programs and the Legislature, and extend funding for everything else until December or January.
The new package would replace a bill passed by the House of Representatives that Democrats repeatedly rejected. The bill only extends government funding through Nov. 21, but that date is rapidly approaching after six weeks of inaction.
Although details are still being worked out, the new bill reflects a tentative plan that moderate Democrats have been drawing up in hopes of winning agreement. The proposal, led by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, would also feature a Republican proposal to hold a vote at a later date on extending expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.
It remains to be seen what Thune, who has refused to negotiate during the government shutdown, will promise on health care and whether enough Democrats will agree to move forward. Republicans have been five votes short of the required 60 votes in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson brings setback to cross-party talks
Democrats are facing pressure from labor unions who want to end the shutdown and allies who want the government to hold on. Many Democrats argue that: Democratic results in Tuesday’s election It shows voters are willing to continue the fight until Republicans relent and agree to extend the health care tax credit.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said this week that a vote on health care subsidies “should mean something.” “That means a commitment that the Speaker will support the bill and that the President will sign it.”
But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) made it clear Thursday morning that he would not make any commitments to Democrats. Asked if he could promise a vote on the health care bill, Johnson said: “I’m not promising anything to anyone.”
Prime Minister Johnson’s clear refusal was a setback for negotiators. Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, one of the moderate Democrats involved in the negotiations, called the speaker’s comments a “serious problem.”
“We have to make sure we get an agreement that has broad support,” Peters said.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has not yet commented on the latest move. He has repeatedly called on President Trump to meet with Democrats, but a meeting seems unlikely.
“Donald Trump clearly feels pressure to end this shutdown,” Schumer said Thursday.
Private negotiations become public
Democratic and Republican groups, which have been quietly negotiating for weeks, insisted they were making steady progress toward a deal.
In a new development Thursday, Republicans suggested they may be open to including language in the final deal that would reverse some of the White House’s mass layoffs of government workers, according to two people familiar with the private talks who spoke on condition of anonymity. However, it was unclear whether the proposal would be included in the new bill.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins, a moderate Republican who has been consulting with Democrats, said she wants furloughed workers to be given back pay and workers who were laid off during the government shutdown to be “recalled.”
“We are still negotiating that language,” she said.
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Associated Press writers Joey Cappelletti, Kevin Freeking and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
