Senate Democrats, holding out for health care, ready to reject government funding bill for 10th time

"The repetition of votes on the funding bill has become a daily drumbeat in Congress, underscoring how intractable the situation has become as it has been at times the only item on the agenda for the Senate floor. House Republicans have left Washington altogether. The standoff has lasted over two weeks, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers furloughed, even more without a guaranteed payday and Congress essentially paralyzed."

""Every day that goes by, there are more and more Americans who are getting smaller and smaller paychecks," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, adding that there have been thousands of flight delays across the country as well. Thune, a South Dakota Republican, again and again has tried to pressure Democrats to break from their strategy of voting against the stopgap funding bill. It hasn't worked."

"Democrats say they won't budge until they get a guarantee on extending subsidies for health plans offered under Affordable Care Act marketplaces. They warned that millions of Americans who buy their own health insurance - such as small business owners, farmers and contractors - will see large increases when premium prices go out in the coming weeks. Looking ahead to a Nov. 1 deadline in most states, they think voters will demand that Republicans enter into serious negotiations."

Senate Democrats continue to reject a stopgap spending bill until Congress addresses extension of Affordable Care Act marketplace subsidies. Repeated votes have occupied the Senate floor as House Republicans have left Washington, leaving a stalemate of more than two weeks. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are furloughed and many others lack guaranteed pay, and thousands of flight delays have been reported. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pressured Democrats to change strategy but has had no success. Bipartisan talks about health care have produced no progress. Democrats warn that premium increases and a Nov. 1 deadline will pressure Republicans to negotiate.

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