As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has accused Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of running the Senate like a ‘kingmaker,’ insisting that negotiations must be transparent and open to all senators. Thune has stated he will not engage in secret talks with Schumer, a practice he says has been common when Democrats controlled the chamber.
Thune’s frustration has been heightened by recent events where his party failed to secure even a basic agreement with Democrats on extending the Obamacare subsidies. He has emphasized the need for a ‘bottom-up’ leadership approach, where each senator has a voice, rather than being subjected to the decisions of a small group within the Democratic leadership. This approach, he explained, is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the legislative process.
Despite his public critique of Schumer, Thune has not ruled out the possibility of a compromise. He has encouraged rank-and-file Republicans to talk with Senate Democrats to find an exit from the shutdown, rather than adopting a rigid stance. However, he has made it clear that any agreement must be reached in the open, not through covert negotiations that have characterized previous attempts at resolution.
The stalemate over the Obamacare subsidies has reached a critical point, with Democrats demanding a guaranteed vote on their continuation, while Republicans refuse to give a guaranteed outcome. Thune acknowledged that Democrats want a ‘guaranteed vote,’ but emphasized that no one can guarantee the passage of any bill through Congress now. Democrats have blocked multiple attempts to reopen the government, ensuring that the shutdown will continue into next week.
Meanwhile, Republicans seek to reform the subsidies, aiming to control costs, while Democrats push for a permanent extension, which would cost over $350 billion over the next decade. Thune has not gone into specifics of the reforms he and others in the Senate GOP would like to see, but he noted that reining in the cost of the program was a starting point. He criticized the current subsidies for creating an incentive for insurance companies to enroll as many people as possible, even if they don’t know they’re enrolled.
Thune also criticized Democrats for allowing ‘far-left’ lawmakers to dominate the party’s agenda, reflecting broader tensions within both parties over leadership and priorities. Despite Schumer’s calls for President Donald Trump to intervene, Thune said the administration would only be willing to engage when the government is back online. He reiterated his belief that Trump is ‘more than willing to sit down with them,’ but warned against allowing Democrats to ‘extort’ the president.