WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators worked through the weekend for the first time since the government shutdown began more than a month ago, hoping to find a bipartisan resolution that has eluded them so far. Government employees went unpaidairlines have forced to cancel flight Benefits of SNAP include: Too late for millions of Americans.
The weekend legislative session was scheduled to begin on Saturday, but it was unclear whether Republicans and Democrats could make progress toward reopening the government and breaking a 39-day partisan deadlock. friday republican Rejected an offer from Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer It calls for reopening the government and extending expired health subsidies for a year, which Thune calls a “non-starter.”
Republicans have refused to engage with Democrats, who have demanded that Republican leaders and President Donald Trump negotiate a deal. Extension of Affordable Care Act tax credits which expire at the end of the year. But Republican leaders are open to a new proposal from a small number of moderate Democrats to reopen the government in exchange for a vote on health care at a later date.
New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who is leading talks among moderates, said Friday night that Democrats “need another path forward” after Republicans rejected Schumer’s proposal. “We’re working on it,” she said.
Moderates continue negotiations
Amid disagreements between leaders of both parties, a small group of Democrats led by Shaheen continued to negotiate with their own party and some rank-and-file Republicans on a deal to end the government shutdown.
The group has been talking for weeks about voting on a series of bills that would fund some parts of the government, including food assistance, veterans programs and the Legislature, and extend funding for everything else until December or January. The three annual spending bills likely to be included are the result of bipartisan negotiations that continued during the government shutdown.
But the contours of that agreement would involve only a promise of a future health care vote, not a guarantee that Affordable Care Act subsidies would be extended by the end of the year. Many Democrats say that is unacceptable.
Still, Republican leaders only need five more votes to fund the government, and the group participating in the talks is 10 to 12 Democratic senators.
As Democrats talked, Republicans held out hope that they could end the government shutdown and then negotiate a compromise on health care. Some Republican lawmakers say they’re open to extending COVID-19-era tax credits because it could lead to higher premiums for millions of Americans, but they want to put new limits on who can receive the subsidies.
“I had some very good discussions with a lot of Democrats,” said South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds.
Republicans focus on new bill package
At a White House breakfast on Wednesday, President Trump called on Republicans to quickly end the government shutdown and eliminate the filibuster, which requires 60 votes in the Senate for most legislation, bypassing Democrats altogether.
“I fully support ending the filibuster, and I will be back to work within 10 minutes once the vote is taken,” President Trump said Friday.
The Republican Party is flatly refused In response to Trump’s call, Thune is instead focusing on bipartisan policies that mirror proposals that have been envisioned by moderate Democrats. However, it is unclear what Mr. Thun, who has refused to negotiate, will promise regarding health care.
The package would replace a bill passed by the House of Representatives that Democrats have rejected 14 times since the government shutdown began. The current bill only extends government funding until Nov. 21, but after six weeks of inaction, that deadline is fast approaching.
Democratic Party’s Choice
If Thune decides to move forward, a test vote on the new bill could be held within days.
If that happens, Democrats will have to make an important choice: Do they continue to fight for a meaningful agreement on an extension? subsidy Will it expire in January, prolonging the pain of closure? 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?
After Thursday’s caucuses, most Democrats indicated they would continue to support President Trump and Republican leaders reaching a deal.
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said Democrats are “obviously not unanimous,” but “absent something on health care, the chances of a successful vote are very slim.”
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who is caucusing with Democrats, said Democrats need to stand strong after their landslide victory. Democratic Party Victory In addition to promising votes on Election Day, they also demand an extension of the subsidy.
Sanders said people are “voting against Trumpism.” “And part of that vote was to say to Democrats, ‘Stay strong, don’t give in, don’t force us to pay double, triple the cost of health care.'”
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Associated Press writers Seung-Min Kim, Kevin Freeking, Joey Cappelletti, Stephen Groves and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
