U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune quickly rejected a Democratic proposal to reopen government agencies and extend expiring health care aid for a year, calling it a “misfire” as the partisan impasse over the government shutdown continues into its 38th day.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer proposed Friday to reopen government agencies as Republicans refuse to negotiate on a request to extend health care aid. It was a much smaller version of a broader proposal Democrats put together a month ago to make the health care tax credit permanent and reverse Medicaid cuts that Republicans passed earlier this year.
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Mr. Schumer proposed to Republicans a simultaneous vote on a bipartisan commission that would address Republican demands to end the government shutdown, extend expired health benefits and amend the Affordable Care Act.
“All Republicans have to do is say yes,” Schumer said.
But Republicans quickly said no, and Thune reiterated that they would not exchange health-care proposals until the government reopened. “When the government opens up, that’s what we’ll be negotiating for,” Thune said after Schumer made his proposal on the floor.
Thune said he thinks the proposal is a sign that Democrats are “feeling the heat.”
“I would say that’s progress,” he said. “But I don’t think that comes close to what we need to do here.”
What would happen next was unknown. Thune has hinted at the possibility of holding a Senate session this weekend. President Donald Trump called on the Senate to stay in Congress “until there is a deal to end the Democratic shutdown.”
Despite the impasse, lawmakers from both parties felt a growing sense of urgency to ease the growing crisis at airports, pay government workers and restore delayed food aid to millions. At the opening of the Senate session on Friday, Thune appealed to Democrats to “put an end to the misery of the past few weeks.”
Moderates continue negotiations
Amid disagreements between leaders of both parties, a small group of Democrats led by New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen continued to negotiate with their own party and 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 other funding into 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 carry only the promise of a future health care vote, not a guarantee that Affordable Care Act subsidies will be extended by the end of the year. Many Democrats say this is unacceptable.
Still, Republican leaders need only five more votes to fund the government, and the group participating in the talks is 10 to 12 Democratic senators.
Republicans focus on new bill package
At a White House breakfast on Wednesday, President Trump called on Republicans to quickly end the government shutdown, abolish the filibuster, which requires 60 Senate votes for most legislation, and fund the government, bypassing Democrats altogether.
President Trump said Friday: “I am completely in favor of ending the filibuster and will be back to work within 10 minutes once the vote is taken.”
Republicans have firmly rejected Trump’s calls, and Thune is instead focused 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 House-passed bill that Democrats have currently rejected 14 times. The bill only extends government funding through Nov. 21, but that date is rapidly approaching after six weeks of inaction.
Democratic Party’s Choice
If Thune decides to move forward, a test vote on the new bill could be held within days.
In that case, Democrats will have to make a critical choice. Will we continue to fight for a meaningful agreement to extend subsidies that are set to expire in January, while prolonging the pain of the government shutdown? Or will they vote to reopen the government and hope for the best, since Republicans have promised 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.
“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.”
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.”
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Democrats are facing pressure from labor unions who want to end the shutdown and allies who want the government to hold on. Many Democrats have argued that Democratic victories on Election Day show voters want Democrats to continue the fight until Republicans relent and agree to extend the health care tax credit.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said a vote on health care subsidies “must 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, a Republican from Louisiana, has vowed not to make any promises. Asked Thursday if he could promise a vote on the health bill, Johnson said: “I’m not promising anything to anyone.”
