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Though many had hoped for an imminent end to the government shutdown, recent reporting says otherwise. Senate Democrats are digging their heels in to preserve expiring Obamacare subsidies, possibly emboldened by Tuesday’s Democrat electoral victories.
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From Fox News:
Senate Democrats left another long closed-door caucus lunch on Thursday, signaling a unified front as the shutdown entered its 37th day amid Republican demands to make a deal to reopen the government.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and his caucus are still riding high after a successful Election Day Tuesday that saw Democratic candidates pummel their Republican opponents. While there are bipartisan talks among centrist Senate Democrats and Republicans on a way out, the majority of the caucus appeared ready to hold the line.
“We had a very good, productive meeting,” Schumer said as he exited the lunch.
Other Democrats agreed with Senator Schumer, although they bristled at the accusation that they were “holding out from reopening the government,” according to Fox. Senator Elizabeth Warren, for example, said, “It’s not about holding out.” She cited Tuesday’s elections, saying, “We fight for access to healthcare for millions of people across this country. Affordability is a giant issue for American families. They told us that at the polls on Tuesday, but they tell us that every day of their lives.”
Senate Democrats have shot down the House’s continuing resolution over a dozen times now, citing concerns over Obamacare subsidies. Majority Leader John Thune has promised to address the issue separately once the government is reopened, but Democrats have refused to budge.
Majority Leader Thune addressed the issue directly, saying, “I think the clear path forward here with regard to the [Obamacare] issue, open up the government, and we head down to the White House and sit down with the president and talk about it,” according to Fox News. He characterized the Democrats’ current strategy as “hostage taking.”
As the longest shutdown in American history continues, families and entire industries are suffering. Let’s pray for a swift end to the shutdown!
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(Excerpt from Fox News. Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
