Shutdown Poised to Become Longest Ever as Senate Rejects Funding Plan a 14th Time
WASHINGTON—Senate Democrats once again rejected a GOP-led bill to fund the government.
The Nov. 4 vote marks the 14th attempt to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to reopen the federal government.
Senators voted 54–44, falling short of the 60 votes needed for advancement. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Angus King (I-Maine) continued to vote with Republicans to OK the bill. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was again the lone Republican voting against it.
The result means the shutdown is just hours away from being the longest in history.
It is currently tied for the longest, matching a funding lapse that occurred during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
During a morning press conference, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) predicted the latest bid to end the shutdown would fail.
“It is absolutely unforgivable,” he said of Democratic opposition to the Republican-led CR, which would effectively maintain government funding at current levels.
Ahead of the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), who previously said he is “optimistic” the shutdown could end this week, said: “I hope—I hope—that there are at least those five Democrats out there who will look at the pain that people are experiencing and will say, ‘Enough is enough.’”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) highlighted the start of open enrollment for health insurance. Expiring Obamacare premium tax credits—a point of contention Democrats have wanted to resolve before reopening the government—mean Americans are looking at higher premium tax credits.
“The Senate deserves to see serious negotiations when it comes to health care. Republicans’ outrageous delay has cost Americans already too much,” he said.
Yet, there have been some signs of momentum this week toward a resolution—including talk from Republicans of a new CR extending into either December or January.
The longer timeline is generally favored by conservatives.
Speaking to reporters on Nov. 4, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) sounded open to some combination of a CR and a minibus—that is, a package made up of some but not all appropriations bills.
He also did not rule out the possibility of the House coming back into session on Friday.
“We’re looking at what happens in the Senate,” Scalise said.
