Cracks emerge in Democrats' unity on government shutdown
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Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock voted with Republicans on Thursday on the government shutdown, after previously rejecting every GOP measure to re-open the government or fund parts of it.
Why it matters: Their dissents introduce a new challenge for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). He's keeping his total number of defections low, but the universe of Democrats willing to defy him is expanding.
- Ossoff and Warnock, both Georgia Democrats, voted — along with Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) — for a GOP-led bill to pay the military and some other federal workers.
- GOP leaders plan to put similar bills on the floor next week, possibly including a measure to pay air traffic controllers through the shutdown.
- Affordable Care Act open enrollment — and the possibility of widespread stoppages to food assistance programs at the beginning of November —could also add pressure on Democrats.
What to watch: Republicans are also dangling carrots, talking about wanting to solve the expiring ACA enhanced subsidies.
- That's the top priority for Democrats.
Between the lines: GOP leadership and key senators huddled Wednesday to discuss paths forward, Politico first reported and Axios confirmed.
- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), who participated in the meeting, told Axios there is a realistic plan that Republicans could accept on extending the subsidies — with some changes.
- But she warned: "Honestly, I think that's fading just because the frustrations of not being able to get into active negotiations on this, on our side."
- The White House also offered Democrats a lunch once the government reopens, deputy chief of staff James Blair told Punchbowl News. Democrats have been all but begging President Trump to get involved.
The big picture: Schumer has so far kept Democrats in line. They've rejected a House-passed, GOP-led stopgap spending bill 12 times in the last three weeks. Today proved why that will get harder.
- "Military service members, TSA workers, and air traffic controllers are among those who simply must come to work, and they should be paid for that work," Ossoff told reporters after voting.
- Ossoff is facing re-election in swing state Georgia next year.
The bottom line: It's common for a senator's delegation mate to vote with them on politically tough measures. Republicans could get two Democratic votes for the price of one.
