Time is running out to find the next solution to get service members paid during the government shutdown, as the $8 billion the Trump administration found to cover troops’ paychecks is due to run out at the end of the month.
After Senate Democrats on Thursday sank a vote on Sen. Ron Johnson’s (R-Wis.) bill to pay active-duty military personnel and federal employees required to work during the shutdown, troops, sailors and Air Force members may not receive their Oc...
Senate
Paul floats bipartisan commission amid Affordable Care Act subsidies battle
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called on President Trump to appoint a select group of bipartisan senators to a commission tasked with addressing the expiring health care subsidies — the issue at the core of the ongoing shutdown standoff.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” the libertarian senator suggested Democrats could agree to reopen the government for a one-month period, during which the commission would formulate proposals to address the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) t...
USDA website slams Senate Democrats over SNAP battle: ‘Well has run dry’
The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) website has placed an advisory blaming Senate Democrats for the impending absence of food assistance benefits on its website.
Starting Nov. 1, it is likely that over 40 million low-income beneficiaries will not receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) aid. The USDA, which runs the program, is threatening to withhold between $5 billion and $6 billion in SNAP contingency funding if the government shutdown lasts until nex...
Whole Hog Politics: Democrats have already won the shutdown, but it won’t be cheap
Two big data points in the headlines this week: 1) The average cost of a family health insurance plan will be $27,000 for coverage next year and 2) The federal debt grew faster than any time other than the pandemic and surpassed $38 trillion on Wednesday.
Both of these are objectively bad and both carry substantial political danger, but only one of them is likely to get much attention as the government shutdown sinks into its fourth week.
There are a lot of ways t...
Ossoff, Warnock break with Democrats on bill to pay essential workers during shutdown
Sen. Jon Ossoff (Ga.), the most vulnerable Democratic incumbent in the Senate, and his home-state colleague, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), voted Thursday for a Republican bill to pay essential federal workers, including members of the military, during the government shutdown.
Ossoff and Warnock joined Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) in voting for the Republican bill. The measure failed to advance on a 54-45 vote. It needed 60 votes to move forward.
Ossoff’s and Warnoc...
Republicans divided over Trump’s role in ending shutdown
Republican senators hope that President Trump can step in and help end the 22-day government shutdown by beginning talks with Democrats on enhanced health insurance premiums, which would give Democrats confidence about having a path to an eventual deal.
Several Republican senators say it would be helpful if Trump were to become more involved in breaking the stalemate by talking with Democratic leaders, which could open a a face-saving path for Democrats to reopen the federa...
‘No Kings’ movement hits Senate floor with Merkley marathon speech
The “No Kings” movement made its way to the Capitol this week as Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) held the floor for 22 hours and 39 minutes from Tuesday evening into Wednesday afternoon, escalating the Democratic fight against President Trump only days after millions across the country protested his administration’s actions.
Merkley, a three-term senator, began speaking at 6:21 p.m. on Tuesday and held the floor until 5 p.m. Wednesday in protest of what he deemed...
Fetterman believes Thune ‘sincere’ about ACA talks after shutdown
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) said Wednesday he thinks Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) would engage in “sincere” talks about extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits once the government reopens.
Fetterman — who came out on Tuesday in favor of the GOP “nuking” the Senate filibuster to pass a bill to reopen the government — said it’s important for senators simultaneously to prioritize funding the government while pushing for the health care subsid...
GOP seeks to make Democrats sweat over pay during shutdown
Senate Republicans are looking to turn the heat up on Democrats with a planned vote to pay military members and essential workers, a move they hope will drive a wedge within the minority and lead to an end to the government shutdown.
Although few believe the measure will pass, Republicans hope it exposes further cracks in the Democratic opposition.
“It’s a hard vote for them,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a top ally to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R...
Democrats block bill to end government shutdown for 11th time
The Senate on Monday voted against reopening the federal government for the 11th time, pushing the shutdown to the three-week mark with both sides at loggerheads and unable to break the impasse.
The chamber voted 50-43 on the House-passed continuing resolution to fund the government through late November. It needed 60 votes to pass.
Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Angus King (I-Maine) once again crossed party lines and sided with Republicans.&n...