The government shutdown has left many federal workers furloughed, caused nationwide flight delays, left small businesses unable to access loans and put nonprofit services in jeopardy. It’s only expected to get worse.
As Congress remains deadlocked over passing a stopgap measure to reopen the government, thousands of Americans are at risk of losing benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant...
Senate
Thune blasts Democrats on Senate floor over SNAP, shutdown: ‘This isn’t a political game’
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) delivered a fiery floor speech Wednesday, chastising his Democratic colleagues for introducing legislation to fund SNAP benefits after consistently voting against a GOP proposal to reopen the government.
In remarks on the Senate floor, the Republican leader blasted the last-ditch effort to cover the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), whose funds are set to dry up this week, accusing Democrats of only now realizing “t...
Cruz says Greene becoming ‘very liberal,’ should be ignored
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) called on people Wednesday to stop listening to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and suggested her politics are moving leftward.
Greene's criticism of her fellow Republicans has escalated in recent days amid the government shutdown. Speaking on CNBC's "Squawk Box," Cruz urged people to not "spend much time worrying about what Marjorie is saying."
"What I've found is that whenever an elected official decides that they are going to turn on...
GOP senator scolds Greene: ‘Present an option’ and ‘don’t just criticize what other people are doing’
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) on Tuesday urged Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to stop sharing criticism about GOP lawmakers' approach to solving the lapse in Affordable Care Act subsidies and present her own plan.
“If this is something she‘s passionate about, put pen to paper, write a bill, present an option,” Moreno said during an appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”
“Don‘t just criticize what other people are doing,” he added.
Moreno ...
Shutdown pain spikes this weekend, upping pressure on Congress to strike deal
The shutdown pain is set to spiral.
After four weeks when the real-world impacts of the budget impasse have been relatively limited, a series of deadlines governing a range of programs will converge at the turn of the month to send the effects of the shutdown well beyond the Beltway.
The D-Day moment, which hits this weekend, is poised to wallop groups as varied as military troops, patients on ObamaCare, kids in Head Start, and low-income families on food stamps.<...
Democrats wobble as pressure to end shutdown ramps up
Senate Democrats are taking a close look at a Republican proposal to pay all federal employees — including essential and furloughed workers — as they’re under new pressure from the nation’s largest federal workers union to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government.
They also plan to introduce legislation to pay for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and extend funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants,...
Democrats vote against ‘clean’ GOP bill to end shutdown despite union pressure
Senate Democrats are resisting calls from the nation’s largest union representing federal workers — a longtime political ally — to accept Republicans’ “clean” stopgap to reopen the government.
It is the latest display of how outside pressure and deadlines have failed to move the parties away from their entrenched positions surrounding Democrats’ demands to negotiate on health care as the shutdown reaches its fourth week.
“I get where they're coming from. We want t...
Senate Democrats block government funding bill for 13th time
Senate Democrats on Tuesday voted for the 13th time to block a House-passed bill to reopen the federal government, despite a plea this week by the nation’s largest federal workers union to end the 28-day shutdown.
The House-passed measure to fund the government through Nov. 21 failed by a 54-45 vote. It needed 60 votes to advance.
Only three members of the Democratic caucus voted to advance the bill: Sens. John Fetterman (Pa.), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.) a...
GOP, Democrats face rising pressure on multiple fronts to end shutdown
Pressure is building on Democratic and Republican leaders to end the 28-day shutdown after the nation’s largest federal workers union called for an end to the stalemate as rank-and-rile GOP lawmakers sound the alarm over rising health insurance premiums.
The blunt message from Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, is one of the biggest developments in the monthlong standoff.
It appeared to be aimed squarely ...
Largest government union calls for clean CR to end shutdown
The largest union representing federal workers is calling for an end to the government shutdown, as it hits Day 27.
In a Monday release, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National President Everett Kelley said “it’s time” for Congress to immediately pass a clean continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the government.
“No half measures, and no gamesmanship,” Kelley said. “Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay — today.”