For the 14th time, Senate Democrats rejected a Republican-led measure to reopen the federal government on Tuesday, guaranteeing that the current shutdown will become the longest in U.S. history.
According to Fox News, the vote, which came as lawmakers marked day 35 of the standoff, underscored the deep partisan divide over healthcare policy and spending priorities. It also matched the record length of the 2019 shutdown — before officially surpassing it by nightfall.
The House-passed continuing resolution (CR) was once again turned away by Democrats, who insist they will not agree to reopen the government without a firm deal on expiring Obamacare subsidies.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., placed the blame on Republicans and President Donald Trump, accusing them of leaving Americans with rising healthcare costs.
“The only plan Republicans have for healthcare seems to be to eliminate it, and then to tell working people to go figure it out on their own,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “That’s not a healthcare plan. That’s cruel.”
Despite Schumer’s tough stance, signs of fatigue are emerging within his caucus. Nearly a dozen Senate Democrats met privately Monday night to discuss a potential off-ramp to end the impasse.
Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., struck a cautiously optimistic tone, saying that while the shutdown may soon end, he doubted it would happen before the week’s close.
“The pressures, the cross pressures that everybody’s feeling, are great,” Thune said. “But I think there are people who realize this has gone on long enough and that there’s been enough pain inflicted on the American people. It’s time to end it.”
Republicans have offered multiple proposals to Democrats, including guaranteeing a vote on the Obamacare subsidies after the government reopens. But with the current CR set to expire Nov. 21, lawmakers are running out of time to pass broader spending bills.
Some members have floated extending the resolution into December or January to avoid another shutdown and to prevent a massive year-end omnibus package. Others are weighing a smaller “minibus” of spending bills tied to the next CR.
Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., who has been involved in bipartisan talks, said Democrats could “stop all this with one vote” if they chose to move forward. “Bottom line is they can stop all this with one vote and get back to work on a bipartisan basis,” Rounds said. “Again, that’s what we’re hoping.”
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has proposed a two-year extension of the Obamacare subsidies as a potential compromise. She acknowledged that meaningful reforms are unlikely right now since insurers have already released new rates.
“It’s just what’s the right concoction?” Murkowski said of the negotiations.
But some Senate Democrats expressed frustration that President Trump hasn’t taken a more active role in the process. Trump has refused to meet with Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., until the government reopens — instead calling on Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster to push through their plan.
“At no point since Oct. 1 has Donald Trump agreed to sit down with Democratic leaders,” said Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J. “If he’s got time to tweet, he’s got time to just come and talk to us.”
As the shutdown drags into record territory, both parties appear to be feeling the weight of public frustration — but neither seems ready to make the first move toward ending it.
