Democrats Vote To Keep Government Shuttered For Eighth Time In Row, Two Weeks In

Almost all Senate Democrats voted down a bipartisan effort to reopen the government on Tuesday as the funding lapse hit the 14-day mark.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the vast majority of his caucus rejected a clean bipartisan funding measure, arguing Republicans must address rising healthcare costs in the government funding bill. Republicans have consistently argued that they will not negotiate unrelated healthcare policy until Schumer supplies the votes to end the shutdown.

The failed vote was the eighth time that Schumer has led his caucus in rejecting the House-passed continuing resolution (CR). The clean CR contains no partisan policy riders and largely extends government funding at current levels.

Republicans have consistently argued that they will not negotiate unrelated healthcare policy until Schumer supplies the votes to end the shutdown.

Still, just two Democratic caucus members — Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and Independent Maine Sen. Angus King — joined Republicans in voting for the measure that would advance a bill to reopen the government on Tuesday. Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who has consistently voted to reopen the government during the shutdown, did not vote. Just one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the measure. Republicans need a total of 60 Senate votes to clear the upper chamber’s filibuster and end the shutdown.

Despite Schumer voicing confidence that Democrats will benefit politically from a prolonged shutdown, the party does not appear to be experiencing a bump in polling yet.

A spate of polling suggests that voters still trust GOP lawmakers and the Trump administration more on economic issues. Recent surveys have also found that more respondents blame Republicans rather than Democrats for the shutdown.

Republicans and the Trump administration hold a 4-point advantage on the economy compared to congressional Democrats, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll