"Entering the third week of a government shutdown, Democrats say they are not intimidated or cowed by President Donald Trump's efforts to fire thousands of federal workers or by his threats of more firings to come. Instead, Democrats appear emboldened, showing no signs of caving as they returned to Washington from their home states Tuesday evening and, for an eighth time, rejected a Republican bill to open the government."
""What people are saying is, you've got to stop the carnage," said Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, describing what he heard from his constituents, including federal workers, as he traveled around his state over the weekend. "And you don't stop it by giving in.""
"Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said that the impact of the expiring health insurance subsidies on millions of people, along with cuts to Medicaid enacted by Republicans earlier this year, "far outweighs" any of the firings of federal workers that the administration is threatening. Republicans, too, are confident in their strategy not to negotiate on the health care subsidies until Democrats give them the votes to reopen the government."
Democrats remain resolute in the third week of the government shutdown, repeatedly rejecting Republican measures to reopen the government. Threats by the administration to fire thousands of federal employees have not produced concessions from Democratic lawmakers. Democratic leaders describe the firings as bluster or an excuse to advance preexisting plans. Voter concern centers on expiring health insurance subsidies and prior Medicaid cuts, which Democrats say affect millions. Republicans maintain confidence in withholding negotiations on the subsidies until Democrats provide votes to reopen the government.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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