Senate Democrats voted Wednesday for a twelfth time to dam a Home-passed invoice to reopen the federal government and hold it funded by means of Nov. 21.
Democrats blocked the funding measure — a clear persevering with decision that may extend Biden-era funding ranges — after liberal Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) spoke on the Senate ground for practically 23 hours to protest President Trump’s first 9 months in workplace.
Democratic colleagues applauded Merkley’s present of defiance earlier than the vote on the Republican-drafted funding invoice.
The invoice did not advance by a vote of 54-46. It wanted 60 votes to maneuver ahead.
Solely three members of the Democratic caucus voted to reopen the federal government: Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (Nev.), John Fetterman (Pa.) and Sen. Angus King (Maine), an impartial who caucuses with the Democrats.
Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) was the lone Republican to oppose the measure.
Democrats who blocked the Home-passed invoice say they received’t fund the federal government till Trump and Republican leaders in Congress negotiate over the expiration of enhanced medical insurance subsidies, GOP-enacted cuts to Medicaid and the administration’s strikes to claw again beforehand permitted funding.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune (R-S.D.) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) have repeatedly rebuffed Democrats’ calls for to barter well being care spending ranges whereas federal departments and companies stay shuttered.
The repeated failure of the Home-passed funding invoice to maneuver within the Senate has Home Republicans discussing the potential of passing a funding stopgap that may final till December 2026.
Even when Democrats abruptly reverse course and vote for the pending Home funding measure, it might solely hold the federal government funded till the Friday earlier than Thanksgiving.
Home Methods and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) instructed Bloomberg TV Wednesday that the Home might go a brand new persevering with decision lasting till Dec. 1, 2026.
Thune instructed reporters Tuesday that the chance of passing the common annual appropriations payments in 2025 is shrinking by the day because the shutdown drags on.
“I think the longer these guys drag this out, the harder it becomes to see a path [to] do it the old fashioned way,” he mentioned.
He mentioned that passing the common appropriations payments beneath common order is “clearly the preferred method and outcome.”
Emily Brooks contributed.
