The Senate is reconvening this Sunday afternoon for a rare session aimed at resolving the 40-day government shutdown, but there are few signs of an imminent breakthrough. Senate Republicans will gather for a conference meeting before the chamber convenes at 1:30 p.m., with no votes currently scheduled.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters that the Senate will continue meeting until the government reopens. Senators are working to finalize the text of a package of three long-term appropriations bills, known as a “minibus,” that would be part of the GOP plan to end the impasse.
Thune is pursuing a strategy that would involve voting to advance the House-passed continuing resolution and amending it to include both this “minibus” and a longer extension of government funding. A vote to begin that process could potentially come on Sunday.
Despite the procedural maneuvering, both sides still appear to be far apart, particularly over health care. On Friday, Democrats offered to reopen the government in exchange for a one-year extension of Affordable Care Act (ACA) health care tax credits, a proposal that Republicans swiftly rejected.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Republicans for quickly dismissing the offer, arguing that extending existing funding is not “negotiating in a shutdown.” However, Republicans have long insisted they won’t negotiate on health insurance demands until the government is reopened.
The rejection of the Democratic offer spurred continued Republican criticism of the ACA. Following the President’s posts, GOP senators spent Saturday railing against the ACA on the Senate floor, echoing President Trump’s criticism of the law earlier in the day.
President Trump continued to attack the ACA on Truth Social Sunday morning, urging Republicans to redirect funds from insurance companies straight to the American people, calling the ACA the “worst healthcare for the highest price.”
This ongoing, intense focus on health care, specifically the ACA, continues to block the necessary path forward to fund the government.
READ: Florida Sen. Scott Blasts Dems On Fox News For ‘Schumer Shutdown’ And Blocking ‘No Pay’ Bill
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