Shutdown stretches into 28th day as Senate again fails to pass spending legislation

"The US government shutdown stretched into its 28th day with no resolution in sight on Tuesday, as the Senate remained deadlocked over spending legislation even as a crucial food aid program teeters on the brink of exhausting its funding. For the 13th time, Senate Democrats blocked a Republican-backed bill that would have funded federal agencies through 21 November. The minority party has refused to provide the necessary support for the bill to clear the 60-vote threshold for advancement in the Senate because it does not include funding for healthcare programs, or curbs on Donald Trump's cuts to congressionally approved funding."

"The quagmire continued even after the president of the largest federal workers union called on Congress to pass the Republican proposal, citing the economic pain caused to government workers. Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight. Today I'm making mine: it's time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship. Put every single federal worker back on the job with full back pay today, Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), said in a statement released on Monday."

"But the top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, signaled no change in his party's strategy of holding out for concession from the Republicans, citing the imminent rise of premiums for Affordable Care Act health plans. Though tax credits that lower their costs expire at the end of the year, many enrollees in the plans have received notices of steep premium increases ahead of Saturday's beginning of the open enrollment period. Families are going to be in panic this weekend all across America, millions of them. How are they going to pay this bill? How are they going to live without healthcare? It's tragic, and of course, it didn't have to be, but Republicans are doing nothing, Schumer told reporters at the US Capitol."

A government shutdown entered its 28th day as the Senate remained deadlocked over spending legislation and a key food aid program nears funding exhaustion. Senate Democrats blocked a Republican stopgap bill for the 13th time because it lacked healthcare funding and protections against cuts to congressionally approved programs. The largest federal workers union urged passage of a clean continuing resolution with full back pay for employees. Senate Democrats continued to demand concessions, citing imminent steep increases in Affordable Care Act premiums and the expiration of tax credits ahead of open enrollment, raising urgency for resolution.

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