The government is now in its first shutdown since 2019 — and there is little sign that either party will soon give in to the other side's demands and turn the lights back on. Hours before the midnight funding deadline, Senate Republicans blocked a spending proposal from Democrats, 47-53, that would have funded the government and extended subsidies for Affordable Care Act health care plans, giving people on the Obamacare exchanges the certainty that Democrats say they need ahead of open enrollment in November. Democrats answered by blocking the GOP's bill, depriving the House-passed legislation of the 60 votes it needs to advance in the Senate. Still, not every Democrat was on board with leadership's strategy. And while most Senate Democrats voted against the GOP's spending bill Tuesday night, there are several Democrats who could grow uncomfortable as the shutdown drags on. This is a preview of Mychael Schnell's latest article. Read the full article here. |
