URGENT UPDATE: Senate Democrats have just blocked a Republican-led measure to reopen the federal government for the 14th time, officially marking the shutdown as the longest in U.S. history. With lawmakers now on day 35 of the standoff, tensions escalate as critical healthcare policies and spending priorities hang in the balance.
The latest vote occurred on Tuesday, November 21, and aligns with the record set during the 2019 shutdown, which was previously the longest at 35 days. The House-passed continuing resolution (CR) was dismissed again by Senate Democrats, who are adamant about securing a deal on Obamacare subsidies before agreeing to any government reopening.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has pointed fingers at Republicans and President Donald Trump, accusing them of neglecting rising healthcare costs for Americans. “The only plan Republicans have for healthcare seems to be to eliminate it,” Schumer stated on the Senate floor. “That’s not a healthcare plan. That’s cruel.”
As frustrations mount, signs of fatigue are emerging within the Democratic caucus. A group of nearly a dozen Senate Democrats convened privately on Monday night to explore potential solutions to end the impasse. Senate Minority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., expressed cautious optimism, suggesting that while a resolution may be near, it likely won’t occur before the end of the week. “It’s time to end it,” Thune noted, acknowledging the mounting pressures faced by both parties.
Republicans have proposed multiple alternatives, including a commitment to vote on the Obamacare subsidies post-reopening. However, the current CR deadline is fast approaching, putting significant pressure on lawmakers to pass broader spending bills. Some members are discussing options to extend the resolution into December or January to avert another shutdown, while others are considering a smaller “minibus” of spending bills tied to the next CR.
Senator Mike Rounds, R-S.D., engaged in bipartisan discussions, emphasized that Democrats could resolve the situation swiftly. “They can stop all this with one vote and get back to work on a bipartisan basis,” he remarked.
Furthermore, Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has floated a two-year extension of the Obamacare subsidies as a potential compromise. However, she acknowledges that significant reforms are unlikely at this stage, given that insurers have already released new rates.
Democrats are increasingly frustrated with President Trump’s absence from negotiations. Trump has refused to engage with Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., insisting that discussions can only occur once the government is reopened. “If he’s got time to tweet, he’s got time to just come and talk to us,” stated Senator Andy Kim, D-N.J.
As the shutdown continues to break records, both parties are feeling the immense weight of public frustration. Yet, neither side appears willing to make the first move toward resolution, leaving millions of Americans in uncertainty. Stay tuned for updates as this developing story unfolds.
