Could the icy deadlock of the government shutdown finally be melting under the heat of bipartisan urgency?
After weeks of gridlock, senators from both sides of the aisle are sensing a shift toward a potential agreement to reopen the government as early as next week, as Semafor reports, driven by pressing deadlines and quiet discussions on full-year funding bills, though no deal is expected this week with President Donald Trump out of town.
For over a month, the Senate, often hailed as the more cooperative chamber of Congress, has been stuck in a partisan quagmire.
Yet, below the leadership level, there’s a noticeable thaw, with more than a dozen sources confirming that rank-and-file members are eager to find common ground.
Republican and Democrat senators are discreetly hashing out ways to fix Congress’s fractured spending process, eyeing several bills to fund the government into next year once it reopens.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) captured this cautious optimism, saying, “I’ve been in enough conversations to know that something is different this week than last week.” Well, senator, a shift in tone is one thing, but let’s hope it’s not just hot air -- real bills need to cross the floor.
Adding fuel to the fire are looming crises, like food stamps and other benefits running out in many states this weekend, not to mention the opening of Obamacare markets with rising premiums due to expiring federal subsidies.
Democrats, who blocked a stopgap bill over these subsidies, are now grappling with the political fallout of the harm caused, while Republicans remain frustrated with no immediate breakthrough in sight.
Still, next week is seen as fertile ground for progress, especially as a congressional recess looms on Nov. 7, pushing both sides to act before the Senate leaves Washington on Thursday if no deal materializes sooner.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer continue to trade barbs on the floor, with Thune mocking Democrats’ rejection of a temporary funding measure and Schumer blaming Trump’s administration for exacerbating the pain of expiring benefits.
Speaking of leadership, Thune noted, “Their leadership, at least, I think, is kind of out of the equation.” If leadership is sidelined, perhaps it’s time for the rank-and-file to step up and sidestep the usual partisan theater.
Indeed, many senators outside the top brass are hungry for solutions, though the absence of Trump this week dims hopes for an immediate resolution.
Any deal will likely hinge on crafting full-year spending bills instead of the patchwork of continuing resolutions that have defined Trump’s tenure, with Democrats pushing for a win on reviving tax credits for healthcare subsidies.
Republicans have offered a vote on the issue, but Democrats want Trump’s explicit backing. That is a tall order given the current dynamics, though his quiet move to open ACA marketplaces in 30 states might signal room for compromise.
If Trump returns and dedicates even a day to meeting with key players, progress could accelerate, but until then, the shutdown -- poised to become the longest ever next Wednesday, surpassing the 35-day record of his first term -- remains a stubborn thorn in the nation’s side.
