The Senate has remained divided as the government shutdown persists. Now, Senate Democrats have blocked a GOP stopgap funding measure for the 13th time, continuing the stalemate.
Refusal to Negotiate Impacting SNAP
The conversation has been centered around SNAP and federal workers. With the ongoing failed negotiations, more than 40 million Americans are going without food stamp benefits for the month of November. Additionally, many federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay.
Little Progress
Very little progress has been made in the stalemate as funding related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to influence negotiations. Senator Schumer explained, “We are in a health crisis and Republicans don’t even want to talk about how to fix it”, expressing his deep concern for Americans who will not be able to afford their healthcare bills.
Republican Response
Republicans are pushing for a straight vote to put an end to the shutdown, refusing carve-outs proposed by Democrats. GOP senators claim that Democrats refuse an outright vote because it means giving up their leverage. Senator Thune stated, “If they persist, it could mean families start to go hungry.”
The Status of the Shutdown
A continued shutdown means that federal workers will continue to work without pay, travel is being impacted as airports are understaffed, SNAP benefits are not reaching the 40 million Americans that need them, and more. The shutdown is one of the most significant in recent history, persisting for more than 40 days.
