Some senators predict the government shutdown could end this week, but the outcome remains uncertain. As the 35-day government shutdown ties for the longest in American history on Tuesday, senators expressed optimism that a resolution might be imminent.
Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) have shown confidence in a potential resolution. Mullin noted that some Democrats privately indicated a willingness to support a short-term Republican spending bill, but Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) advised them to wait until after Tuesday's elections to avoid low turnout from the liberal base. Rounds, a centrist Republican, echoed this optimism, citing bipartisan talks and the potential for a resolution this week.
Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Schumer also highlighted the upcoming elections in Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and California as a potential catalyst for a breakthrough. Schmitt suggested that after the elections, Democrats might reveal their true intentions, which he believes are primarily political. He predicts that the government funding issue will be resolved later this week, aligning with the initial Republican proposal.
However, Democrats have dismissed the idea that reopening the government is solely dependent on the election, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) mocking it as 'cynical galaxy brain thinking.' The GOP needs just five more Democratic votes to pass a continuing resolution (CR) and reopen the government. The House passed a clean CR on September 26, but Senate Democrats opposed it, demanding that any funding bill also address health insurance subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.
With the November 21 deadline and Thanksgiving holiday approaching, Congress may need to pass a longer CR extending into the new year to allow bipartisan negotiators more time to craft spending bills for the fiscal year that began on October 1. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-Maine) expressed cautious optimism, citing increased progress in negotiations.
Despite the optimism, there are ongoing challenges. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) opposes setting a December deadline, fearing it could lead to a massive omnibus spending package. He supports a CR that funds the government into January, a timeline endorsed by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and other Republicans. However, no bipartisan negotiations are currently happening at the leadership level with Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).
While some rank-and-file Democrats remain hopeful for a breakthrough, they are less confident than the GOP that the shutdown will end this week. Democrats continue to demand that Trump and other GOP leaders negotiate extending the Affordable Care Act subsidies, but Republicans refuse, insisting that the government must be reopened first.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) expressed skepticism about an immediate solution, noting the lack of Republican commitment to guarantee healthcare insurance. Schumer emphasized the urgency of lowering healthcare costs for 24 million Americans on Obamacare facing premium increases due to uncertain subsidies. He criticized Republicans for prioritizing tax cuts for billionaires over the needs of their constituents.
The outcome of the government shutdown remains uncertain, with various stakeholders expressing differing views and priorities. The public's perspective and the impact on federal employees, beneficiaries of federal programs, and other affected services will play a crucial role in shaping the resolution.
