Government Shutdown Enters Day 38 as Republicans Reject Democratic Health Care Compromise

WASHINGTON:

Senate Majority Leader John Thune promptly dismissed a Democratic proposal to reopen the government and extend expiring health care subsidies for a year, labeling it a "nonstarter" as the government shutdown entered its 38th day with no resolution in sight.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer presented the offer on Friday, significantly scaling back from Democrats' earlier comprehensive proposal that sought to make health tax credits permanent and reverse Republican-enacted Medicaid cuts. Schumer proposed simultaneous votes on ending the shutdown and extending health care subsidies, along with establishing a bipartisan committee to address Republican concerns about the Affordable Care Act.

"All Republicans have to do is say yes," Schumer stated on the Senate floor.

Republicans swiftly rejected the proposal, with Thune reaffirming their position against negotiating health care matters until government operations resume. "That's what we're going to negotiate once the government opens up," Thune responded following Schumer's floor proposal.

Thune suggested the Democratic offer indicated they were "feeling the heat" from the prolonged shutdown. "I guess you could characterize that as progress," he remarked, "But I just don't think it gets anywhere close to what we need to do here."

Following a Friday afternoon Republican meeting, Senator John Kennedy declared, "We're back to square one," expressing uncertainty about when the shutdown might conclude.

Despite the continuing stalemate, pressure was mounting on lawmakers from both parties as the shutdown's consequences intensified. Airlines canceled over 1,000 flights, government workers remained without paychecks, and millions experienced delays in food assistance. Thune implored Democrats to "end these weeks of misery" as he opened Friday's Senate session.

The path forward remained unclear. Thune kept the Senate in session through the weekend while a group of moderate Democrats worked on potential compromise solutions. President Trump urged the Senate to remain in Washington "until they have a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown."

While party leaders remained at odds, a small Democratic contingent led by New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen continued negotiations among themselves and with Republican rank-and-file members to find an agreement to end the shutdown.

For weeks, this group has discussed voting on multiple bills to fund specific government functions—food aid, veterans programs, and legislative operations—while extending funding for remaining sectors until December or January. The proposed spending bills represent bipartisan negotiations that have continued throughout the shutdown period.

However, such an agreement would only include a promise of future health care deliberations rather than guaranteeing extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies before year-end, which many Democrats find unacceptable.

Nevertheless, Republican leadership needs only five additional votes to fund the government, and the negotiating group includes 10 to 12 Democratic senators.

"Unfortunately the Republicans made it very clear that they were not going to go along with the offer that Senator Schumer put on the floor, so we need another path forward," Shaheen stated Friday evening after meeting with fellow moderates. "We're working on it."

During a White House breakfast Wednesday, President Trump urged Republicans to swiftly end the shutdown and eliminate the legislative filibuster, which requires 60 Senate votes for most legislation, allowing them to bypass Democratic opposition entirely.

"I am totally in favor of terminating the filibuster, and we would be back to work within 10 minutes after that vote took place," Trump declared on Friday.

Republicans have firmly rejected Trump's suggestion to eliminate the filibuster. Thune has instead been considering a bipartisan package similar to what moderate Democrats have outlined, though it remains unclear what health care commitments he would be willing to make.

This package would replace the House-passed legislation that Democrats have now rejected fourteen times, which would only extend government funding until November 21—a rapidly approaching deadline after six weeks without resolution.

A test vote on new legislation could occur within days if Thune decides to proceed, presenting Democrats with a critical choice: continue fighting for meaningful health subsidy extensions while prolonging the shutdown's impact, or vote to reopen government and accept Republican promises of an eventual health care vote without guaranteed outcomes.

Following Thursday's Democratic caucus meeting, most members indicated they would continue pressing for Trump and Republican leaders to engage in negotiations.

"That's what leaders do," remarked Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.). "You have the gavel, you have the majority, you have to bring people together."

Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) acknowledged Democrats are "obviously not unanimous" but maintained that "without something on health care, the vote is very unlikely to succeed."

Democrats face mounting pressure from unions eager for the shutdown to end, while allied groups urge them to stand firm. Many Democratic lawmakers argue that their Election Day victories demonstrate voter support for continuing the fight until Republicans agree to extend health tax credits.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, insisted that any vote on health care subsidies "has got to mean something." He emphasized, "That means a commitment by the speaker of the House, that he will support the legislation, that the president will sign."

However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has refused to make any such commitments. "I'm not promising anybody anything," Johnson stated Thursday when asked about guaranteeing a vote on health care legislation.