Lawmakers Continues to be Deadlocked on Shutdown Prior to Monday Vote
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Democratic and Republican leaders are still divided on resolving the federal funding lapse as further legislative action approaches on Monday.
In distinct Sunday interviews, the Democratic leader and House speaker each attributed responsibility to the opposition for the ongoing impasse, which will start its fifth consecutive day on Monday.
Healthcare Emerges as Major Sticking Point
The main dividing issue has been medical coverage. Democratic lawmakers want to ensure coverage support for economically disadvantaged Americans continue uninterrupted and seek to restore reductions in the government healthcare program.
A bill to fund the government has passed the House, but has consistently stalled in the Senate.
Accusations and Responses Grow
The House minority leader accused Republicans of "being dishonest" about the opposition's goals "because they're losing the voter approval". However, the GOP leader said the opposition is "lacking seriousness" and bargaining dishonestly - "their actions serve to get political cover".
Legislative Schedule and Procedural Obstacles
The Senate is expected to return to session Monday following lunch and once again take up a multiple continuing resolutions to fund the government. At the same time, The minority caucus will convene Monday to consider next steps.
The Republican leader has continued a House recess through the week, meaning representatives will remain adjourned to consider a funding bill if the senators propose amendments and come to a deal.
Legislative Math and Partisan Considerations
GOP maintains a slim advantage of 53 seats in the upper legislative body, but all appropriations bills will require 60 votes to become law.
In his weekend appearance, the House speaker argued that the opposition's rejection to approve a stopgap appropriation that continued present spending was unnecessary. The medical coverage subsidies in question don't expire until the year's conclusion, he said, and a liberal measure would add too much additional funding in a temporary seven-week bill.
"There remains sufficient time to figure that out," he said.
Migrant Assertions and Healthcare Discussion
He also argued that the tax credits would not help address what he says are significant issues with healthcare policy, including "unauthorized migrants and working-age males with no family responsibilities" utilizing Medicaid.
Certain conservative lawmakers, including the second-in-command, have described the liberal approach as "trying to give medical coverage to undocumented immigrants". Democrats have denied those claims and unauthorized migrants are not eligible for the programs the Democrats are supporting.
Liberal Position and Insurance Worries
The Democratic leader told weekend television that the opposition believes the results of the expiring credits are serious.
"We're fighting for the medical coverage of working Americans," he said. "If Republicans continue to refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit, tens of millions of US citizens are going to encounter significantly higher monthly payments, co-payments, and initial costs."
National Polling Indicates Extensive Disapproval
Recent survey results has discovered that the public regards both parties' handling of the funding lapse unfavorably, with the President also netting a negative reception.
The research found that four-fifths of the around two-thousand five hundred respondents interviewed are significantly or slightly anxious about the shutdown's effect on the economic system. Only 23% of those polled said the conservative approach was justified the closure, while twenty-eight percent said the equivalent for the opposition's position.
The survey found citizens attribute responsibility to the Administration leader and Republicans in Congress primarily for the situation, at nearly two-fifths, but Democrats were not far behind at three-tenths. About 31% of respondents said each faction were at fault.
Mounting Effects and Presidential Threats
Simultaneously, the results of the funding lapse are beginning to mount as the shutdown drags into its second week. On Saturday, The National Gallery of Art announced it had to shut down operations due to lack of funding.
The President has consistently warned to use the shutdown to enact widespread firings across the federal government and eliminate agencies and services that he says are important to Democrats.
The specifics of those potential cuts have not been made public. The president has argued it is a chance "to remove dead wood, waste, and fraud. Significant amounts can be preserved".
When asked about the statements in the weekend discussion, the Republican leader said that he had lacked specific information, but "the condition remains disappointing that the president does not want".
"I want the Senate leader to make appropriate decisions that he's exhibited across his extended service in Capitol Hill and vote to keep the government open," the Republican leader said, adding that as long as the government was stalled, the executive branch has "needs to implement challenging measures".