Democrats embrace votes to make government shutdown hurt less
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has seized on the plan that Republicans floated – and then discarded – to soften the government shutdown's sting for some federal workers and aid beneficiaries.
Why it matters: Schumer's (D-N.Y.) strategy had been to withhold votes across the board while Democrats fought for Affordable Care Act subsidies. Now he's pushing a partial reopening of government, without those ACA subsidies as part of the equation.
- It's an attempt to make Republicans own more of the acute and escalating pain of the government shutdown.
- "Democrats will introduce a clean, standalone bill today to ... keep SNAP benefits flowing," Schumer said on the Senate floor.
Zoom in: Schumer and top Democrats see Senate Majority Leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) decision not to pursue a "rifle shot" strategy as an opportunity to apply pressure on Republicans.
- After Thune's first three plans to open up all – or part – of the government failed, he suggested last week that he was open to "rifle shots" to fund parts of the government.
- But Republicans realized such bills would reduce their overall leverage, Axios reported on Monday.
- On Tuesday, pursuing that plan was called off in a closed-door luncheon, with Vice President Vance voicing his firm opposition.
Look for Senate Democrats to add to Tuesday's push to release SNAP funds, with more à la carte funding bills in the coming days.
- "We can't let politics starve children. This bill is simple, targeted, and necessary," said Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).
- "I'm a yes on the SNAP bill. The money exists. The need is urgent. There's no excuse," said Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.).
The bottom line: Last week, Schumer called a GOP bill to pay the military and some federal workers a "ruse."
- "We will not give Donald Trump a license to play politics with people's livelihoods," he said in a speech from the Senate floor.
