WASHINGTON — On the second day of the shutdown, Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., known as it “silly” and stated a negotiation together with his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Chuck Schumer, isn’t “going to perform lots.”
In an interview with NBC’s Tom Llamas that may air Thursday night time, Thune stated Democrats may have one other alternative on Friday afternoon to hitch Republicans in voting for a clear, short-term invoice to reopen the federal government.
“I’d suspect that we’ll in all probability cross paths on the ground; we’re each on the ground very often. Our places of work will not be far aside. So if he desires to talk, he is aware of the place to search out me,” Thune stated of Schumer, the New York Democrat who serves as minority chief. “However I feel at this level, proper now, the problem stated, is fairly simple. I don’t know that, you already know, negotiation goes to perform lots.”
For extra on this story, tune into “Prime Story with Tom Llamas” at 7 p.m. ET on NBC Information Now.
“It is a seven-week funding decision simply to maintain the federal government funded so we will proceed doing the appropriations work that we began earlier this yr,” he added.
Negotiations between Republican and Democratic leaders have been at a standstill ever since they left a gathering with President Donald Trump on the White Home on Monday and not using a deal. Trump adopted up that assembly by posting an insulting AI video of Schumer and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and private jabs have flown backwards and forwards since.
The federal government shut down on Wednesday for the primary time in six years, with no indicators of reopening.
Schumer and the Democrats are demanding that any funding invoice embrace an extension of Inexpensive Care Act subsidies which can be set to run out on the finish of the yr. However Thune has insisted he gained’t negotiate on these tax credit till Democrats assist Republicans reopen the federal government.
“I’m all about getting it again open once more. I feel shutdowns are— no person wins, and I feel truthfully, for probably the most half, they’re silly,” Thune stated within the interview. “We actually shouldn’t be shutting the federal government down, and it shouldn’t be taken hostage to do different coverage issues which can be completely unrelated to funding the federal government.”
In an announcement Thursday, Schumer urged the American individuals had been turning towards Republicans, who at the moment management all levers of energy in Washington.
“People see it clearly: They know Trump governs by chaos and welcomes this shutdown — and that Republicans are following his orders to maximise ache. That cruelty is already backfiring,” Schumer stated. “People blame Trump and Republicans for the shutdown, and the longer they drag it out, the deeper the ache and that blame will develop.”
Pressed by Llamas, Thune defended Trump and his prime aides who’ve stated they’re planning to maneuver ahead this week with everlasting federal layoffs because of the shutdown, in addition to revoking billions in federal funding for initiatives in blue states like New York, the house state of each Schumer and Jeffries. Thune stated none of these items would occur if the Democrats helped reopen the federal government.
“Tom, let’s come again to the essential premise: That is avoidable,” Thune stated, including that the Democrats “are taking part in with hearth by doing this.”
He added that Trump’s finances director, Russell Vought, and different administration officers would make spending choices throughout this shutdown based mostly on the place “their political priorities lie.”
“It’s quite simple, you keep away from this by simply voting to maintain the federal government open,” he stated.
The Senate didn’t maintain votes on Thursday in honor of the Yom Kippur vacation, however has scheduled votes at 1:30 p.m. ET Friday on dueling Republican and Democratic plans to reopen the federal government. But those self same funding payments have already failed 3 times earlier than.
If the proposals are defeated for a fourth time, Thune stated earlier Thursday, the Senate will probably not maintain any votes over the weekend. Meaning a shutdown would final no less than till Monday, when the Home can also be planning to be again on the town following a two-week recess.
“They’ll have a fourth likelihood tomorrow to vote to maintain, to open up the federal government,” Thune advised reporters within the Capitol. “And if that fails, then now we have the weekend to consider it. We’ll come again. We’ll vote once more on Monday.”
