This is the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, lasting 40 days. And President Donald Trump’s bill is being worked out thanks to a minority of eight Democratic senators who agreed to reopen the government without guarantees of medical aid.
In a preliminary vote, the first in a series of necessary procedural steps, the Senate moved toward approving federal funding and passed a subsequent vote 60-40 to extend the Affordable Care Act’s funding deadline, which is set to expire Jan. 1.
Final approval could be delayed by several days if Democrats object and delay the process. The deal is dividing the party. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) opposed it.
“This health crisis is so serious, so urgent, so devastating to families in my district that I cannot in good conscience support this interim funding resolution,” Schumer declared on the Senate floor, referring to the bill.
The Democratic majority called for a guarantee from the White House that the government would extend Obamacare, the program that helps 20 million Americans pay for health insurance, to expand national health insurance. But President Trump, whose giant tax bill approved in the summer already includes social policy cuts, has repeatedly said the Obamacare system is a disaster…but to date he has not offered an alternative.
Trump wanted a blank check from the Democrats he continues to insult every day. And a few of them are giving it to them. The Senate is therefore voting this Sunday to take the first steps to end the partial government shutdown without health coverage.
A group of three former governors — New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan and independent Maine Sen. Angus King — vowed to vote in favor of reopening if the Senate passes three annual spending bills and extends remaining government funding through the end of January, the Associated Press reported.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Sunday night supported the deal and called for an immediate vote to begin the approval process.
The agreement would also include future votes on a health care aid package, the outcome of which Republicans have not guaranteed, and an end to the mass layoffs of federal workers that have been in place since the start of the government shutdown on October 1.
Republicans need five Democratic votes to reopen the government. In addition to Mr. Shaheen, Mr. King and Mr. Hassan, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, home to millions of federal workers, also expressed support for the deal.
After Democrats met for more than two hours to discuss the proposal, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declared that he could not support it “in good faith.”
“America is in the midst of a health crisis caused by Republicans,” Schumer declared on the floor just before the scheduled vote. “Democrats are sounding the alarm. We will not give up the fight,” Schumer said.
The Democratic group’s progressive leader, Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, declared abandoning the fight a “failure.”
Republicans are working with a centrist Democratic caucus as the government shutdown continues to disrupt flights across the country, putting food assistance for millions of Americans in jeopardy and leaving federal workers without pay. But many Democrats say the political fight cannot end unless they agree to extend health care subsidies.
“It looks like we’re nearing the end of the shutdown,” President Trump said as he returned to the White House Sunday night after watching a football game.
Democrats have voted against reopening the government 14 times and are pushing for an extension of aid to make health care coverage more affordable under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Republicans have also refused to negotiate health care aid during the government shutdown, but the agreement with moderate Democrats would provide some government funding, including food aid.
The deal calls for extending funding for programs such as veterans and the Legislature, as well as funding for everything else, through the end of January. A long-standing Republican proposal to hold future votes on health care subsidies in mid-December is expected to be accepted, according to people close to the case.
The agreement would reinstate federal employees who were given termination notices and provide compensation to states that used their own funds to keep federal programs going during the shutdown. It also prevents future layoffs through January and ensures that all federal employees will receive a paycheck once the shutdown ends.
In addition to resolving funding issues, Republicans on Sunday released the final legislative text for three annual spending bills. The bill maintains a ban on pay raises for members of Congress, but provides $203.5 million to strengthen their security in response to growing threats. The bill also includes a provision pushed by Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, to ban the sale of some cannabis-derived products.
Even if the Senate approves the funding bill, a final vote could take days if objections from Democratic lawmakers opposed to the deal delay the process. The first vote would advance consideration of the bill.
If Republicans agree to a future vote on health care, there is no guarantee that support from the Affordable Care Act will be extended. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said he would not compromise.
Some Republican lawmakers have said they want to extend coronavirus-era subsidies, given the potential for higher premiums for millions of people, but they also want to put new limits on who can receive them.
Mr. Trump and other Republicans have used the debate to reiterate long-held criticisms and call for its repeal or reform without offering an alternative.
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