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Because the shutdown enters its second month, Democrats dodged questions on whether or not their hardline stance on extending Obamacare subsidies is price maintaining federal employees with out pay and risking advantages by way of the federal government closure.
Requested by Fox Information Digital whether or not it’s price persevering with the standoff over Obamacare as federal employees go weeks with out pay and advantages lag, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., answered, “We now have to ask a Republican, as a result of the Republicans have agreed to precisely zero negotiations.”
“Donald Trump is out flying all over the world, the Republicans right here within the Senate will not do a rattling factor with out Donald Trump telling them to, and the Home Republicans at the moment are on their sixth week of paid trip,” Warren continued. “So, you recognize, we might like to take a seat down and negotiate, however we have got no Republicans on the opposite facet.”
President Donald Trump launched into a diplomatic tour to Asia this week, visiting with leaders from a number of completely different international locations, each pleasant and unfriendly to the U.S., together with South Korea, Japan and China.
GOVERNMENT LIMPS DEEPER INTO SHUTDOWN CRISIS WITH NO DEAL IN SIGHT
Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks on the fourth and final day of the Democratic Nationwide Conference (DNC) on the United Heart in Chicago, Ailing., on Aug. 22, 2024. ( SAUL LOEB/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
Home Republicans, in the meantime, have been in recess, with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., indicating the physique will stay thus till the Senate agrees to the Home-passed funds persevering with decision invoice to reopen the federal government.
When requested the identical query, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., additionally positioned the blame on Trump, saying, “He is received to conform to reside by the deal we give you; to this point we have not been capable of get him to agree.”
“The problem that issues probably the most to me in opening authorities is getting the president to ensure that if we open it, he will not then tear up the deal,” Kaine added. “We now have to do a funds deal for 30 days or 45 days, no matter is completed, however he has to agree that in the event you try this, he received’t then the following day begin firing extra individuals, canceling initiatives.”
Kaine credited Trump for locating funds to pay U.S. troops, “when the Home refused to return again to take up a army pay invoice,” saying, “I believe that is vital.”
Nonetheless, he additionally ripped on the president, saying, “No person ought to go hungry, no person ought to go with out pay. President Trump has billions of {dollars} in a contingency fund for employees that Congress put there for this second and he’s cruelly refusing to make use of it, and that is all on him.”
THUNE, GOP REJECT PUSHING ‘RIFLE-SHOT’ GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILLS DURING SHUTDOWN
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters within the James Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington as from left, Secretary of the Inside Doug Burgum, Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth, Lawyer Common Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, look on. (AP Picture/Alex Brandon)
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in the meantime, referred to as Trump’s stance “as fabulously immoral as any act seen by any president ever.”
“The funding is there for November, $5.5 billion,” he stated, “The president has the authority to distribute these funds … However the president determined to assault the welfare of America’s kids as a bargaining chip.”
Confronted with the query, Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., stated, “Republicans are giving us two decisions: both take well being care away from tens of millions of individuals or take meals away from tens of millions of individuals and do not pay the troops. I do not suppose that is the selection that we’re going through.”
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., shot again, “You’re speaking to the incorrect Democratic senator as a result of I voted for the persevering with decision 13 occasions.”
SENATE DEMOCRATS DEFY WHITE HOUSE WARNINGS, AGAIN BLOCK GOP BID TO REOPEN GOVERNMENT
The Capitol Constructing is seen from the Nationwide Mall in Washington D.C. on Friday, August 9, 2024. (Aaron Schwartz/Center East Photographs/AFP by way of Getty Photographs)
Pressed additional on why extra Democratic senators haven’t adopted go well with, Cortez-Masto stated, “You’ve received to speak to my colleagues.”
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., additionally framed the difficulty as certainly one of affordability, saying, “The Republicans within the Home have not been to work in six weeks. So, it reveals how callous and uncaring they are surely. They should reopen this authorities instantly.”
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“We additionally want to make sure that we do not inflict any additional ache. We have inflicted a lot ache on hardworking, working-class People who can’t afford not solely the insurance coverage and healthcare, they will now not afford groceries,” she stated, including, “This administration is inflicting our financial system to fail and our hurting households on daily basis.”
Alsobrooks famous, “I’ve voted on eight completely different events to reopen the federal government and, you recognize what, the Republicans want to return to the desk and negotiate one thing that enables us each the reopen this authorities and to be sure that we’re making certain that People are capable of afford well being care protection.”
