{"id":97230,"date":"2025-10-06T03:26:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-06T03:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=97230"},"modified":"2025-10-06T03:26:00","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T03:26:00","slug":"congress-remains-deadlocked-on-shutdown-ahead-of-monday-vote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=97230","title":{"rendered":"Congress remains deadlocked on shutdown ahead of Monday vote"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Democratic and Republican leaders remain far apart on how to end the partial shutdown of the US government as another day of voting approaches on Monday.<\/p>\n

In separate Sunday interviews with NBC\u2019s Meet the Press, the House\u2019s top Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries and its Republican leader, Mike Johnson, each blamed the other\u2019s party for the continued standoff, which will head to day five on Monday.<\/p>\n

The key dividing issue has been healthcare. Democrats want to ensure health insurance subsidies for those with low incomes do not expire and aim to reverse cuts to the Medicaid health programme.<\/p>\n

A bill to fund the government has passed the House, but has repeatedly failed in the Senate.<\/p>\n

Jeffries accused Republicans of \u201clying\u201d about Democrats\u2019 intentions in the negotiations \u201cbecause they\u2019re losing the court of public opinion\u201d. But Johnson said Democrats are \u201cnot serious\u201d and negotiating in bad faith \u2013 \u201cthey\u2019re doing this to get political cover\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Senate is expected to reconvene Monday afternoon and once again take up a pair of continuing resolutions to fund the government. Meanwhile, House Democrats will meet on Monday to discuss the situation. <\/p>\n

Johnson has extended a House recess through the week, meaning Congress\u2019 lower chamber will not be in session to take up a funding bill should the Senate make any changes and come to a deal.<\/p>\n

Republicans hold a narrow majority of 53 seats in the 100-seat Senate, but any funding measure will require 60 votes to pass.<\/p>\n

In his interview with NBC, Johnson argued that Democrats\u2019 refusal to approve a short-term spending bill that kept funding at current levels was unnecessary. The healthcare tax credits at issue don\u2019t expire until the end of the year, he said, and a Democratic proposal would add too much new spending in a seven-week stopgap measure.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have plenty of time to figure that out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also argued that the tax credits would not help address what he says are major problems with healthcare policy, including \u201cillegal aliens and able-bodied young men without dependents\u201d using Medicaid.<\/p>\n

Some Republicans, including Vice-President JD Vance, have cast the Democrats\u2019 position as \u201ctrying to give healthcare benefits to illegal aliens\u201d. Democrats have denied those claims and illegal or undocumented immigrants are\u00a0not eligible for the schemes\u00a0the Democrats are supporting, BBC Verify reports.<\/p>\n

Jeffries told NBC\u2019s Kristen Welker that Democrats feel the consequences of the expiring credits are dire.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are standing up for the healthcare of hard-working American taxpayers,\u201d he said. \u201cIf Republicans continue to refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credit, tens of millions of American taxpayers are going to experience dramatically increased premiums, copays, and deductibles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeffries criticised President Donald Trump\u2019s handling of the shutdown and his social media posts aimed at Democrats, saying \u201cthat behavior is outrageous\u201d. \u201cWe need serious leadership,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Jeffries added that Republican leaders have stopped communicating with Democrats and accused them of negotiating in bad faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Democrats, our view is that we will find bipartisan common ground with our Republican colleagues to reopen the government, to actually pass a spending bill that meets the needs of the American people,\u201d Jeffries said. \u201cBut we have to decisively address this Republican health care crisis that is devastating hard-working American taxpayers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Americans blame both parties<\/h2>\n

New polling data from CBS, the BBC\u2019s American news partner, has found that Americans view both parties\u2019 handling of the shutdown unfavourably, with President Trump also netting a negative reception.<\/p>\n

The survey found that 80% of the nearly 2,500 Americans polled are very or somewhat concerned about the shutdown\u2019s effect on the economy. Only 23% of those surveyed said the Republican position was worth a shutdown, while 28% said the same of Democrats\u2019 argument.<\/p>\n

The polling found voters blame Trump and Republicans in Congress most for the situation, at 39%, but Democrats were not far behind at 30%. About 31% of Americans polled said both sides were to blame.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the consequences of the shutdown are beginning to mount as the shutdown drags into its second week. On Saturday, The National Gallery of Art announced it had to close its doors due to lack of funding.<\/p>\n

Trump has repeatedly threatened to use the shutdown to enact mass layoffs across the federal government and cut agencies and services that he says are important to Democrats.<\/p>\n

The details of those potential cuts have not been made public. The president has argued it is a chance \u201cto clear out dead wood, waste, and fraud. Billions of Dollars can be saved\u201d.<\/p>\n

Johnson was asked about the threats in the Sunday interview, telling NBC that he had not seen details, but \u201cit is a regrettable situation that the president does not want\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want Chuck Schumer to do the right thing that he\u2019s done throughout his 30-plus year career in Congress and vote to keep the government open,\u201d Johnson said, adding that as long as the government was stalled, the White House has \u201cto make tough decisions\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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