Congress Stays Gridlocked on Shutdown Before Monday Vote
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Democratic and Republican leaders remain far apart on resolving the government closure as additional votes nears on Monday.
In distinct Sunday interviews, the House's top Democrat and House speaker each attributed responsibility to the opposition for the continued standoff, which will enter its fifth day on Monday.
Health Insurance Stands as Key Dividing Issue
The primary dividing issue has been healthcare. Democrats want to ensure coverage support for low-income individuals do not expire and aim to reverse cuts to the Medicaid program.
A legislation financing the government has cleared the lower chamber, but has repeatedly failed in the Senate.
Allegations and Recriminations Grow
The House minority leader claimed GOP members were "being dishonest" about the opposition's goals "as they trail in the court of public opinion". However, the Republican leader said Democrats are "unserious" and bargaining dishonestly - "they're doing this to get electoral shielding".
Government Schedule and Legislative Obstacles
The Senate is expected to resume work Monday in the PM and revisit a pair of stopgap bills to support the government. At the same time, The minority caucus will gather Monday to address the impasse.
The GOP leader has continued a legislative break for several days, meaning representatives will stay closed to consider a appropriations measure in case the Senate makes any changes and come to a deal.
Senate Arithmetic and Political Calculations
GOP maintains a small edge of 53 seats in the 100-seat Senate, but all appropriations bills will require sixty approvals to become law.
In his Sunday interview, the conservative leader stated that liberal lawmakers' denial to approve a temporary funding measure that maintained existing budgets was unwarranted. The medical coverage subsidies at issue don't expire until the December 31st, he said, and a liberal measure would add too much additional funding in a temporary seven-week bill.
"Adequate opportunity exists to resolve that issue," he said.
Immigration Claims and Insurance Discussion
He also contended that the subsidies would be ineffective against what he says are major problems with insurance regulations, including "illegal aliens and able-bodied young men without dependents" using Medicaid.
Some Republicans, including the Vice-President, have cast the opposition's stance as "attempting to provide insurance advantages to undocumented immigrants". Democrats have denied those claims and illegal or undocumented immigrants are unqualified for the programs the liberal lawmakers advocate.
Democratic Perspective and Insurance Anxieties
The opposition spokesman told weekend television that Democrats feel the effects of the ending subsidies are serious.
"We support the health insurance of US citizens," he said. "If Republicans continue to refuse to continue the healthcare law tax credit, dozens of millions of American taxpayers are going to face significantly higher insurance costs, out-of-pocket expenses, and deductibles."
National Polling Indicates Extensive Dissatisfaction
Latest research has found that Americans view each side's management of the funding lapse unfavorably, with the Chief Executive also netting a negative reception.
The survey found that 80% of the around two-thousand five hundred respondents polled are significantly or slightly anxious about the closure's impact on the economic system. Only less than one-quarter of those surveyed said the conservative approach was worth a shutdown, while 28% said the comparable regarding liberal lawmakers' stance.
The survey found voters blame the President and GOP legislators most for the situation, at thirty-nine percent, but liberal lawmakers followed shortly after at three-tenths. About nearly one-third of Americans polled said both sides were responsible.
Increasing Effects and Administrative Statements
Simultaneously, the effects of the closure are commencing to increase as the shutdown drags into its second consecutive week. On the weekend, The National Gallery of Art announced it had to shut down operations due to lack of funding.
The Chief Executive has repeatedly threatened to use the funding lapse to implement mass layoffs across the national administration and reduce government departments and programs that he says are valuable to Democrats.
The particulars of those potential cuts have remained undisclosed. The chief executive has stated it is a chance "to eliminate inefficient elements, unnecessary spending, and dishonest practices. Billions of Dollars can be preserved".
When asked about the warnings in the Sunday interview, the House speaker said that he had not seen details, but "the condition remains disappointing that the chief executive opposes".
"I desire the Democratic leader to do the right thing that he's done throughout his three-decade tenure in the legislature and approve maintaining the government open," the Republican leader said, adding that as long as the impasse continues, the executive branch has "needs to implement challenging measures".