The Senate is in a rare weekend session as the chamber remains in limbo, with lawmakers struggling to find a resolution to the ongoing government shutdown. Behind the scenes, appropriators are finalizing a spending package that includes three bills to be attached to the House-passed continuing resolution (CR). This package, if passed, would extend government funding until the end of the year. However, the plan is not yet ready for a vote, and no formal action has been taken yet.
Senate Republicans have spent the weekend engaging in floor debates, with a focus on criticizing the Obama-era healthcare law, especially the extension of expiring premium subsidies. Senate Democrats have consistently opposed such measures, blocking the package multiple times in the past. As the Senate is set to take a week-long recess to coincide with Veterans Day, tensions remain high.
Majority Leader John Thune expressed willingness to keep lawmakers in town until the shutdown ends, indicating a strategic move to avoid a prolonged government closure. He emphasized the importance of having a voting process to pass the measure, stating, “We’ve got to have votes to actually pass it.” However, Republicans are hesitant to put the CR to a vote if it is expected to fail.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democratic colleagues have introduced an alternative plan that would extend the expiring Obamacare subsidies for a year and establish a bipartisan working group to negotiate the next steps after the government reopens. This proposal, however, has been met with immediate opposition from Republicans, who labeled it as a “non-starter.” Some GOP members have even called for a reduction in funding for certain programs to pay federal workers during the shutdown.
The political tension has heightened, with Democrats expressing frustration over the Republican refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations. Senator Mark Kelly commented on the Democrats’ stance, stating, “They don’t want to help people with their healthcare.” Republicans, on the other hand, argue that extending the subsidies would primarily benefit insurance companies rather than the general public. This divide continues to hinder progress toward a resolution.