The US shutdown continues because the Senate failed to muster enough votes to end it. This is reported by CNN.
“Two proposals to fund the government – one from the Democrats, the other from the Republicans – have failed in the Senate. Democrats want Republicans to extend Obamacare’s expanded subsidies as part of any temporary funding bill, while the GOP says the issue should wait until the end of the year, the report said.
Senators from both parties express dissatisfaction with the lack of progress, as Democrats and Republicans stand firm.
“It is the day of the groundhog. I mean, really and truly. This is the absolute holding of the American people hostage, trying to get their own”, – said Republican Sen. Jim Justice after the Republican temporary funding bill failed for the fifth time on Monday night.
Democratic senators also criticized the lack of formal negotiations with their Republican colleagues, stressing that the shutdown is now in its second week.
“Lots of talk, but nothing structured. That’s the problem,’ commented Democratic Senator Peter Welch.
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds, who has organized several informal bipartisan meetings with Senate colleagues, acknowledged that they have yet to make significant progress:
“But we’re still saying and we’re still trying to make it clear that once the shutdown is over, we’ll actually be able to start negotiations on a lot of these issues, including all of the appropriations bills, the NDAA, and we know there are opportunities to amend all of that.
