By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are scrambling to strike a deal to keep the government open — with just two weeks left before the Sept. 30 deadline.
On Wednesday, Democrats unveiled their own proposal: a one-month stopgap bill. It won’t pass in the GOP-controlled chambers, but it’s designed to show where Democrats stand.
“We are confident when the American people contrast these two proposals, they’re going to side with us,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY.). “They’re going to tell Republican congressmen and senators that they should start talking to the Democrats because we are talking about what people need.”
Their plan calls for extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, reversing spending cuts from the Trump administration and restoring Medicaid dollars that were cut in the Big, Beautiful Bill Act.
“For me, when the president signed into law the big, beautiful bill, he basically said, I’m going to make you sicker and poorer. I want to have a conversation, particularly about health care,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.).
Democrats say Republicans have not invited them to the negotiating table to provide input on the spending plan.
“They even refused to have bipartisan negotiations. We’ve always had bipartisan negotiations on this. Johnson put his bill in- no Democratic input. That is why Republicans are heading us for a shutdown,” said Leader Schumer.
However, Republicans accuse Democrats of changing the rules and playing politics by demanding concessions this late in the game.
“They have had the opportunity to negotiate. There are anomalies in there that the Democrats wanted in there. We are doing this the way that used to be done, and that is allowing the appropriation committee and the respective chairs and ranking members to do this the right way,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD.).
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), called a potential shutdown dangerous and said he would back the GOP spending plan.
“I would never, ever hold the government open as a hostage, saying, if you don’t do this, then I refuse to keep our government open,” said Fetterman. “Our country is not, right now, where we need more of that kind of chaos to shut the entire government down.”
But support from six more Democrats will be needed in the Senate to pass any spending plan because of the Senate filibuster. It’s for that reason, Slotkin and others want to negotiate further.
“When you want to work on something, you come together. Even with people you disagree with and you compromise. So that’s all we’re asking,” said Slotkin. “I’m a realist. I know I’m not going to get everything that I want. But is it my job to fight for the lower cost of health care? Absolutely. And is that my starting place? Yes.”
Meanwhile, Republicans in the House are advancing a plan they say would keep the government running through Nov. 21. A vote in the House could occur as early as Friday.
