From Wednesday (October 1st) at 12:01 am, the federal government began a shutdown as the Democratic and Republican parties failed to reach an agreement on a temporary funding bill.
In the Senate, at noon on Wednesday, a third full chamber vote was held on proposals supported by each party. The Republicans continued to put forward a temporary spending resolution from the House aimed at ending the government shutdown, while the Democrats insisted on including a temporary proposal for a healthcare plan.
According to the voting results, the Democratic temporary funding bill again failed to advance in the Senate, with 47 votes in favor and 53 against. Later, the short-term funding bill proposed by the Republicans still had 55 votes in favor and 45 against. Although three Democratic senators joined the Republicans, they still did not reach the threshold of 60 votes.
This result was the same as the second full Senate vote on Tuesday night.
Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman, Maine Independent Senator Angus King, and Nevada Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto broke ranks with the Democrats and supported the Republican proposal. Except for Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul voting against, all other Senate Republicans voted in favor. The remaining Democrats all voted against.
Before the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told the media that if the Democrats did not change their stance and push the House’s temporary spending bill, he planned to keep the Senate in session over the weekend.
Regarding the Democrats’ blockade of the funding bill passed by the House, Thune said, “If we are going to continue to vote to stop the government from functioning, we may have to stay here.”
The Democrats stated that they would not reopen federal departments and agencies until the Republicans agreed to negotiate an extension of the expiring subsidies for enhanced health insurance at the end of the year.
On Thursday, the Senate adjourned to observe the significant Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced on Wednesday that there seems to be no end in sight to the government shutdown, so he decided to have the House return to Washington next week.
Johnson said at a press conference with congressional leaders, “The House will return next week, they will be here this week as well, just to complete our own work.”
The House Republican leadership decided to continue the recess this week to exert maximum pressure on Senate Democrats to pass a funding bill.
Johnson stated that he did not intend to convene the House on Friday.
“We’re essentially powerless staying here, despite the lights being on,” he said. “We must get the government reopened.”