washington, D.C. – Negotiations โto end the 40-day partial federal government shutdown remained deadlocked Saturdayโ as Democrats andโ Republicans in the Senate failed to reach an agreement, extendingโค the โclosure into its second month.โ This โmarks theโค longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The impasse centers on disagreements over โฃhealthcare โfunding, specifically the Affordable Care Act (ACA),โ frequently enoughโ referred toโ as Obamacare. Senate Minority Leader Chuck โSchumer (D-NY) proposed a resolution to fund โthe government in exchange for a one-year extension of ACAโ subsidies set to expire โat year’s โend.
Though, Senate Majority โฃLeaderโ John Thune (R-SD) deemed the proposal โ”unviable,” โreiterating support for a Republican โplan already passed by the House of Representatives – a plan โขthe Senate has rejected 15 times. โขPresidentโ Donald โคTrump has criticized the ACAโค and suggested redirecting funds directly to citizens for individual health insurance choices, a position aligningโ with the Republican stance.
Despite closed-door discussions between party representatives, noโ breakthrough wasโฃ achieved. Republicans are โreportedly seekingโค a short-term funding package through the end of the year, โalongside aโฃ “clean” โขextension of current funding levels withoutโค significant changes.
Sen.โข Thune โคstated the Senate sessionโข would continue until a resolution is reached. The session was postponed โafter โfiveโ hours and isโฃ scheduled to reconvene Sunday at 1:30 p.m., with the possibility of votes pending. This weekend session represents the first time senators have been in session as theโ shutdown โคbegan on October 1st.โ The upcoming Veteransโ Day holiday next Tuesday may further complicate โscheduling.