January 1, Senate Blocks GOP Plan to Keep Government Open

Wyatt’s Take

• Senate Democrats stopped the Republican funding plan, risking a shutdown.
• Republicans say Democrats’ demands go too far and delay needed compromise.
• Both sides blame each other while time runs short for a deal.

Senate Democrats halted a short-term government funding plan backed by Republicans, failing 44-48, as the September 30 funding deadline approaches. Only Sen. John Fetterman supported the GOP plan, while a few Republicans also voted no, leaving Congress at a standstill.

The proposal passed the House easily but hit opposition in the Senate over what was left out of the bill, not what was included. Democrats argue the plan doesn’t address needed health policies, while Republicans say Democrats’ extra demands derail any deal.

“The House has acted,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune. “The president’s ready to sign the bill. We’ve got the appropriations committee and a lot of senators who are ready to go to work to pass bipartisan appropriations bills to fund the government by allowing these additional weeks into November. In order to do that, Democrats have to take ‘yes’ for an answer.”

The plan would have kept the government funded until November 21 and boosted security funds, but Senate Democrats refused, arguing it missed needed measures like Obamacare subsidies. They accuse Republicans of shutting them out on purpose at the urging of President Trump.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer countered, “We have two weeks. They should sit down and talk to us, and we maybe can get a good proposal… when they don’t talk to us, there’s no hope of getting a good proposal. And that makes no sense.”

In return, Republicans reject Democrat priorities as out of place in a stopgap bill, saying policy expansions should come later. They also claim Democrats are being driven by the far-left wing and risking everyday people’s livelihoods just to score political points.

With lawmakers set to leave for a week recess and little time left once they return, the standoff threatens another government shutdown.

For more information, see the full story at Fox News.

Wyatt Matters

When politicians dig in their heels, it’s regular folks who pay the price. The back-and-forth shouldn’t put jobs, security, or vital services on the line. Middle America is tired of last-minute games—let’s see Congress put the people first for a change.