The Senate faced another setback as it rejected two funding measures for the government for the seventh consecutive time Thursday, deepening the federal shutdown that is now poised to extend into its third week. With no significant shifts in bipartisan support, the political tension surrounding the funding stalemate is intensifying, particularly after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made remarks suggesting that the shutdown is becoming increasingly favorable for Democrats politically.
Senators will vote on the two stopgap funding measures again on Friday, but with no changes in the political landscape since last week, there’s no indication the impasse will be broken soon. Instead, Republicans have seized on Schumer’s comments as a political gift, with several GOP senators and the White House responding publicly. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) criticized Schumer’s remarks, stating, “No matter what Chuck Schumer thinks, Americans struggling is not good, and the Democrats must stop inflicting this pain on them and reopen the government now.” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to end the shutdown and prevent further economic hardship.
Despite the Republican backlash, Schumer has continued to advocate for the government to reopen and for Republicans to engage in negotiations on both the funding crisis and health care. During a speech on the Senate floor, Schumer noted, “Each day our case to fix health care and end the shutdown gets better and better, stronger and stronger.” He also pointed to the absence of key GOP leaders, including Donald Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, and other Senate Republicans, as an obstacle to resolution. However, top Republicans insist that they will not negotiate on the substance of the Affordable Care Act tax credits while the government remains shut down.
Senators John Thune and John Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, have expressed openness to some discussions about the Affordable Care Act, but only once the government reopens. Barrasso indicated, “We need to open the government and then we can have all the discussions and votes and talks and all of those things.” Thune, while not dismissing the possibility of an ACA vote, argued that it would not serve as an off-ramp for Democrats. Bipartisan talks about the broader picture are ongoing, including full-year funding bills and health care, but concrete progress remains limited. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) noted her close contact with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who is “very constructive and is trying to find a path forward,” yet Collins reiterated the need for the government to reopen immediately.