Washington — the Government shutdown It extended to its 40th day on Sunday even as senators in Washington remained in a grueling session over the weekend hoping to find an end to a funding battle that has disrupted flights across the country, threatened food aid to millions of Americans and left federal workers without pay.
The Senate has so far shown few signs of progress over the weekend that could prove crucial in the shutdown battle. Republican leaders hope to hold votes on a new package of bills that would reopen the government in January while also approving full-year funding for several parts of the government. But the necessary Democratic support for this effort was by no means guaranteed.
“We are only a few votes away” from passing the government reopening bill, Senate Majority Leader John ThuneRD, on Saturday.
However, Democratic leaders are pushing hard to extend subsidies to health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act’s marketplace. Republicans have rejected that offer, but have signaled their openness to a proposal emerging from a small group of moderate Democrats to end the shutdown in exchange for a vote later on Obamacare subsidies, which would make coverage more affordable for everyone.
For those enrolled in the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges, premiums are expected to double on average next year if Congress allows the enhanced subsidies to end.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said pledging a vote on extending health care subsidies would be a “wasted gesture” unless “you have a commitment from the speaker of the House that he will support it and that the president of the United States will sign it.”
President Donald Trump has made clear that he is unlikely to make concessions anytime soon. He pressed Republicans again over the weekend to get rid of the issue Senate filibuster rules Which prevents the chamber from advancing most legislation unless there is support from 60 senators.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, and others, negotiating among themselves and with some rank-and-file Republicans, have been discussing bills that would pay for parts of the government — food aid, veterans programs and the legislative branch, among others — and extend funding for everything else until December or January. The agreement would only come with a promise of future votes on health care, rather than a guarantee of expanded benefits.
It was not clear whether enough Democrats would support such a plan. Even with an agreement, Trump seems unlikely to support extending health benefits. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Los Angeles, also said last week that he would not commit to a health vote.
Republican leaders need just five additional votes to fund the government, and the group participating in the talks ranged from 10 to 12 Democratic senators.
Some Republicans have said they are open to extending tax credits in the era of COVID-19, when premiums could rise dramatically for millions of people, but they want new restrictions on who can get the benefits. They lined up Saturday to head to the Senate floor and argue that financial support for the plans should be directed through individuals.
“We will replace this broken system with something better for the consumer,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.
Trump wants Republicans to quickly end the shutdown and eliminate the filibuster, which requires 60 votes in the Senate for most legislation, so they can bypass Democrats completely. Vice President J.D. Vance, a former state senator from Ohio, supported the idea in an online post on Saturday, saying Republicans who want to keep the filibuster are “wrong.”
Republicans have unacceptable Trump’s call, Thune is looking forward to a bipartisan package that mirrors the proposal drawn up by moderate Democrats. What Thune, who has refused to negotiate, might promise on health care is unknown.
The package would replace House-passed legislation that Democrats have rejected 14 times since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. The current bill would extend government funding until November 21 only.
A test vote on the new legislation could be held in the next few days if Thune decides to move forward.
Democrats will then have a crucial choice: continue the fight for a meaningful agreement on an extension Subsidies Which ends in January, with the lockdown prolonged? Or vote to reopen the government and hope for the best as Republicans promise a final vote on health care, but not a guaranteed outcome.
Schumer insisted on Saturday that Republicans must accept a one-year extension of the benefits before negotiating the future of the tax breaks.
“Doing nothing is negligent because people will go bankrupt, people will lose insurance, and people will get sicker,” Schumer said in a speech. “This is what will happen if this Congress fails to act.”
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Associated Press writers Seung-Min Kim, Joey Cappelletti, Mary Clare Jalonick and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.