Congress Stays Gridlocked on Shutdown Ahead of Key Vote
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Leaders from both major parties continue to disagree on how to end the partial shutdown as another day of voting approaches on Monday.
In individual Sunday discussions, the House's top Democrat and Republican leader each attributed responsibility to the opposition for the persistent gridlock, which will begin its fifth day on Monday.
Medical Coverage Stands as Key Dividing Issue
The main dividing issue has been health insurance. Democratic lawmakers want to ensure premium assistance for those with limited means remain active and propose undoing cuts to the government healthcare program.
A measure supporting the government has passed the House, but has repeatedly failed in the Senate.
Charges and Recriminations Escalate
The House minority leader accused Republicans of "providing false information" about Democrats' intentions "because they're losing the court of public opinion". However, the Republican leader said liberal lawmakers remain "lacking seriousness" and negotiating in bad faith - "this approach helps to get protection from criticism".
Congressional Schedule and Procedural Challenges
The Upper chamber plans to resume work Monday afternoon and once again take up a multiple stopgap bills to fund the government. Meanwhile, House Democrats will meet Monday to consider next steps.
The Republican leader has prolonged a legislative break until next week, meaning the House of Representatives will remain adjourned to address a appropriations measure should the senators propose amendments and reach an agreement.
Senate Arithmetic and Partisan Realities
Conservative lawmakers possess a narrow majority of fifty-three positions in the 100-seat Senate, but all appropriations bills will need sixty approvals to be approved.
In his Sunday interview, the Republican leader stated that liberal lawmakers' denial to support a short-term spending bill that continued present spending was unnecessary. The healthcare tax credits in question continue through the December 31st, he said, and a Democratic proposal would include excessive increased appropriations in a seven-week stopgap measure.
"We have plenty of time to resolve that issue," he said.
Border Allegations and Healthcare Discussion
He also stated that the financial assistance would be ineffective against what he says are significant issues with medical coverage systems, including "illegal aliens and working-age males without dependents" accessing Medicaid.
Some Republicans, including the second-in-command, have portrayed the Democrats' position as "seeking to offer healthcare benefits to unauthorized migrants". Democrats have denied those allegations and illegal or undocumented immigrants are unqualified for the schemes the Democrats are supporting.
Opposition Perspective and Insurance Worries
The House minority leader told Sunday news programs that liberal lawmakers consider the consequences of the ending subsidies are dire.
"We're fighting for the healthcare of working Americans," he said. "If Republicans continue to refuse to renew the Affordable Care Act subsidy, dozens of millions of American taxpayers are going to encounter significantly higher insurance costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and deductibles."
National Polling Indicates Extensive Dissatisfaction
Recent survey results has discovered that the public regards both parties' handling of the government closure negatively, with the Chief Executive also garnering disapproval.
The poll found that eighty percent of the nearly 2,500 Americans interviewed are significantly or slightly anxious about the closure's impact on the economy. Only 23% of those surveyed said the Republican position was justified the closure, while twenty-eight percent said the comparable regarding liberal lawmakers' stance.
The polling found the public faults the Chief Executive and Republicans in Congress most for the situation, at nearly two-fifths, but the opposition trailed closely at three-tenths. About thirty-one percent of US citizens surveyed said both sides were at fault.
Mounting Effects and Presidential Warnings
At the same time, the effects of the funding lapse are starting to accumulate as the closure continues into its second week. On Saturday, The National Gallery of Art announced it had to shut down operations due to insufficient appropriations.
The Administration leader has repeatedly threatened to utilize the shutdown to enact mass layoffs across the federal government and reduce government departments and programs that he says are valuable to Democrats.
The particulars of those possible reductions have remained undisclosed. The chief executive has argued it is a chance "to clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be preserved".
When asked about the warnings in the weekend discussion, the GOP leader said that he had been unaware of particulars, but "the condition remains disappointing that the administration leader dislikes".
"I want the opposition counterpart to make appropriate decisions that he's done throughout his extended service in Congress and support continuing the government open," the House speaker said, adding that as long as the funding remains blocked, the executive branch has "must consider difficult choices".