‘Will they change course?’: US Senate in deadlock over government shutdown
Key Takeaways
- The US government is in its third day of a shutdown due to an impasse over a continuing resolution.
- Democrats are refusing to pass funding bills unless they address healthcare spending, including ACA subsidies and Medicaid.
- Republicans are pushing for a 'clean' bill to maintain the status quo, but their proposals are failing to reach the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
- Both party leaders, Chuck Schumer and Mike Johnson, publicly exchanged blame for the deadlock and the failure to negotiate.
- Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are facing furloughs or working without pay as a result of the shutdown.
The United States government shutdown entered its third day with no resolution in sight, characterized by continued deadlock between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. Republicans pushed for a 'clean' continuing resolution to maintain the status quo funding, but Democrats blocked it, demanding action on healthcare spending, specifically concerning expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies and recent cuts to Medicaid. Frustration was palpable, with Senator John Kennedy labeling the situation as 'stupid,' as the Republican proposal failed for the fourth time to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. While most senators voted along party lines, a few outliers from both sides complicated the votes, including Senator Rand Paul citing concerns over federal debt. Democrats countered with their own healthcare-focused bill, which also failed, leading Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to accuse Republicans of wasting time and demanding negotiation. House Speaker Mike Johnson defended the Republican stance, arguing for Medicaid reform due to alleged fraud and abuse, while accusing Schumer of political maneuvering. Both sides acknowledged the hardship faced by hundreds of thousands of federal workers caught in the middle of the funding dispute.
