Shutdown Latest: Senate Votes Fail, No Signs of Compromise Yet
The U.S. Senate is searching for the way forward to end the government shutdown, after rejecting for the fifth time a continuing resolution that would reopen the government.
Both votes taken on Monday, one put forward by Republicans and one by Democrats, failed to reach the required 60 votes to advance.
Republicans want to pass a clean funding measure to extend government funding into November, while Democrats want any measure to include an extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax cuts. Three senators who align with Democrats, Senators John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Angus King (I-ME), crossed over to vote with Republicans, as they had been during the whole shutdown negotiations. However, no additional Democrats switched their vote, indicating that the stalemate is continuing, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) says he plans to keep holding votes on the same continuing resolutions and right now sees little to negotiate with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“I think we’ve made it very clear that we want an appropriations process, we want to get this thing moving again. And hopefully at some point that becomes enough of a priority for some of his members that they’ll find a way to get to ‘yes,’” said Senator Thune. “But it sounds like they’re still stuck at the moment.”
But Senator Schumer disagrees.
“After five failed votes, it should be clear to Republicans that we cannot go forward unless they sit down and seriously negotiate with Democrats to address the health care crisis. It’s that simple,” said Senator Schumer.
Mixed Messages over White House Talks
Meanwhile, President Trump opened the door a bit to negotiations with Democrats on ACA subsidies, but then seemingly closed it hours later.
“We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things,” the president told reporters. “And I’m talking about good things with regard to health care.”
However, hours later he returned to the position that the shutdown must end before any talks are held on extending subsidies.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said that negotiations are not currently ongoing. Still, he took it as a hopeful sign.
“If President Trump and Republicans are finally ready to sit down and get something done on healthcare for American families, Democrats will be there — ready to make it happen,” said Senator Schumer.
