Moderate Democrats are at the center of a game of tug-of-war between Republicans and Democratic leadership, as the GOP attempts to peel off the five remaining votes needed to back the party’s “clean” stopgap spending bill and reopen the government.
According to multiple GOP sources, individual Republican lawmakers are engaging with Senate Democrats who they view as flippable in a bid to win them over. Although some members of leadership are involved, this is largely being d...
Senate
Washington Post editorial board warns Democrats walking into ‘shutdown trap’
The editorial board of The Washington Post is warning that progressive Democrats are leading the party into a “shutdown trap.”
In an op-ed published Wednesday morning, the board noted that Democrats "shut off any potential escape valve to avoid a shutdown" when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), facing a left-wing revolt, apparently backed off a potential plan to buy more time for negotiations.
“In doing so, progressives embraced the same disastrous me...
Why is there a government shutdown?
(NEXSTAR) – Lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to fund the federal government by midnight on Tuesday night, triggering a shutdown on Wednesday. At the heart of the deadlock are health insurance subsidies.
Here's what to know about the key sticking points in the budget negotiations.
What are the tax credits lawmakers disagree on?At issue are tax credits that have made health insurance more affordable for millions of people since the COVID-19 ...
Rank-and-file senators in both parties seek breakthrough on shutdown
Senate centrists in both parties are trying to put together a deal to reopen the federal government.
A group of them huddled on the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon, after Democrats voted for the second time in two days to block a House-passed stopgap funding measure.
Three members of the Democratic caucus voted for the House-passed continuing resolution, but five more Democrats would need to support it to reopen the federal government.
Senate Republican...
Vance: Schumer ‘terrified’ of primary challenge from Ocasio-Cortez
Vice President Vance on Wednesday argued Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's (D-N.Y.) actions around a government shutdown were influenced by concern that he could face a primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y).
Vance addressed reporters from the White House briefing room on the first day of a government shutdown spurred by a clash between Senate Democrats and their Republican counterparts over demands on health care funding.
"The reason wh...
Schumer calls Johnson ‘the real bad guy’ in shutdown
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blamed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Wednesday for the government shutdown but added that he needs to be part of any negotiations to continue funding the government.
"The American people know the Republicans have the presidency, they have the Senate, they have the House, and the blame will be on them," Schumer told MSNBC host Joe Scarborough on "Morning Joe."
"They will have to negotiate with us," he added.
...
Senate defeats House-passed bill to reopen government, despite Democratic cracks
Senate Democrats voted Wednesday to block a House-passed stopgap funding bill that would reopen the federal government until Nov. 21, but several Democrats broke with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) and supported the measure.
Wednesday’s vote marked the third time in two weeks that the House-passed continuing resolution failed to advance on the Senate floor — but it was the first time senators voted on the issue while the government is closed. The measure need...
Republicans again defeat alternative Democratic proposal to fund government
Senate Republicans voted on Wednesday to block a Senate Democratic proposal to fund the federal government through Oct. 31, permanently extend enhanced health insurance premium subsidies that are due to expire in December, and to restore nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid funding cuts.
Republicans defeated a procedural motion to advance the legislation after voting against the bill itself on Tuesday.
The measure failed by a vote of 47-53.
The Senate is also ...
Republican leaders dig in on pressuring Democrats to open government
Republican leaders in Congress on Wednesday dug in on pressuring Democrats to vote for a “clean” GOP-crafted stopgap to reopen the government, signaling the Senate will hold repeated votes on the bill if necessary.
The top GOP leaders from both chambers appeared on the Capitol’s west terrace Wednesday morning in a rare press conference setting that had the National Mall in the background as a video screen played old videos of Democrats criticizing government shutdowns.
...
Five questions hanging over the government shutdown
Morning Report is The Hill's a.m. newsletter. Subscribe here.
In today's issue:
▪ Navigating the shutdown
▪ Hegseth enacts DOD vision
▪ Epstein files vote delayed
▪ 2020 lingers over Georgia race
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