Democrats vote to close and now have to find a way

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats have maintained their promise to reject Republican spending bills that do not extend or restore medical benefits. Government closure. Now they have to find a way out of it.

Just hours after the closure began, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said “closures could go away very quickly” if Republicans work with them.

But that’s not easy. Republican leaders – Senate majority leader John Tune, House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump said I won’t negotiate or take hostages “A law that Democrats opposed by Democrats, who demand concessions to reopen the government, are a simple extension of 45-day fundraising, and they should be noncontradictory.

That uncompromising Republican position may not last long, but there was early informal talks on the Senate floor on Wednesday, but the deal is difficult to reach. For now, if both parties can find a common foundation in healthcare policy or hold enough trust for Democrats to change their position, it is extremely uncertain.

At the same time, extended shutdowns can become increasingly painful for Democrats. The Trump administration has it Threatened to fire thousands of workers And it targets democratic nations. On Wednesday, the White House announced it Holding subway and tunnel projects In Schumer’s hometown in New York.

“This Democratic closure actually slows the development of issues Democrats claim to be of interest,” Thune, who represents South Dakota, said Wednesday on the Senate floor.

Some shaking Democrats appear in the saga of closure

Republicans were encouraged Tuesday evening Three Democrats voted to keep the government open – John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Catherine Cortez Mast of Nevada and Angus King, independent Sen. in Maine.

The majority Republicans need eight Democrats to win the 60 votes needed to pass in the 53-47 Senate. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was the only Republican to vote Democrats on the measure.

Thune has repeatedly voted for the measure, failing 55-45 on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. He said five Democrats ultimately feel pressured and hope to support the bill “when they realize this is losing and losing.”

Republicans are looking at moderate Democrats who appear to be shaking before voting a “no” vote Tuesday night, including Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Gary Peters of Michigan. Both voted to keep the government open in March, With Schumermany of my colleagues voted for shutdown.

However, Shaheen and Peters voted no on Tuesday after extensive negotiations with colleagues on the floor. Shaheen then said, “I have been intensive conversations with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle.

Democrats at the intersection: Do you dig or dig?

Some Democrats say they need to dig deeper and fight, as they’re already looking for a way.

“As Donald Trump’s lawlessness grows during this closure, our thorns should be stiff and not bend,” Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy said in a social media post Wednesday. “Let’s represent something. The American people don’t want us to fund the destruction of their healthcare and the destruction of our democracy.”

The Caucus split brings the Schumer’s dilemma blown up by basic voters and activists when he voted with Republicans in March to keep the government open. Many Democrats in the House and Senate suggest that shutting down government is the only leverage to fight Trump and push back his policies, including cutting healthcare and spending.

“To stand up to this (Trump) is sending him a message on other issues as well,” said Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Healthcare politics

Democrats quickly demanded Republicans Extend medical subsidies For those who purchase compensation through the Affordable Care Act market. The grants first introduced in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic are set to expire at the end of the year, increasing premium costs for millions of people.

Many Republicans say they are accepting extensions, but they want to see the change. Other Republicans, particularly the House, see it as an unacceptable extension of President Barack Obama’s signature health care laws that Republicans have tried to eliminate or reduce since it was enacted 15 years ago.

Johnson has not promised to discuss the issue, saying, “reform is needed.”

Obamacare is “a flawed system,” Johnson told CNBC.

Thune has repeatedly said that Republicans are willing to negotiate the issue once the government opens again.

Still, some Republicans began informal talks with Democrats on the Senate floor on Wednesday, beginning to repeatedly expand the grants they’ve expanded for a year and eventually repeal them. The idea posed by Republican Sen. Minecround in South Dakota is likely to be rejected by many Republicans, but Democrats said they are encouraged to be talking at all.

“At least we’re on the same page where we’re talking about the same issue,” D-Vt said. Senator Peter Welch said after the floors were packed. “So I see it as progress, but it’s a long way from where we have to end.”

Lessons from the past

Past shutdowns Show that it is difficult to win big concessions by shutting down the government.

In 2018, the government closed for three days after Schumer-led Democrats claimed budgetary measures were involved. Protecting young immigrants He is known as the “dreamer” for Obama-era postponed action. They voted to resume after Mitch McConnell, the then majority leader, promised only a vote on the issue.

Later that year, Trump forced a shutdown He raised funding for his border wall and retreated 35 days later, tightening delays at the country’s airports and missing the salaries of hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and House Republicans Triggered shutdown in 2013 About Obama’s healthcare laws. Bipartisan negotiations in the Senate finally ended the closure 16 days later, with Republicans not winning any major healthcare concessions.

“I don’t think a shutdown would benefit anyone, at least, Americans,” Tune said.

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