Party sticks to its guns on healthcare and says it’s willing to hold out – much to the delight of its progressive supporters
When he sat down to talk about the US government shutdown with reporters from a closely read political newsletter this week, Chuck Schumer sounded as if he was relishing his standoff with the Republicans.
“Every day gets better for us,” he told Punchbowl News. As the shutdown got under way, Schumer explained, the Republican part believed that Democrats would quickly fold and vote to reopen the government, but instead they had stuck to their guns for a week and a half, demanding an array of concessions on healthcare and other issues.
Outrage followed from Republicans, who printed out the Senate minority leader’s remark on posters and condemned it before press conferences. The shutdown has prompted federal agencies to close or curtail operations nationwide, and forced hundreds of thousands of employees to stay home without immediate pay. Schumer, Republicans argued, was being callous.
“What Chuck Schumer is doing right now, it’s sickening.”
Who was it that called a recess early and hasn’t backed down on ACA subsidies?
I must have Mike confused with Chuck.
The Speaker of the House has the power to keep everyone in session for as long as it takes to pass anything. Instead of voting over and over until anything passes, he’s sent them away. The Democrats COULDN’T vote to pass right now, because only Mike Johnson can call them in to vote.