Thune says “a lot more conversations” are happening between senators
Speaking on CNBC this morning, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said “there are a lot more conversations going on now” between Republicans and Democrats than “perhaps there were a couple of weeks ago.”
“This is something we ought to be able to work out. It’s simply funding the government so that we can fund the rest of the government through the normal appropriations process,” he said. “And the Democrats have tried to make it about everything else, and all we’re simply doing is saying, let’s pass a funding bill and keep the government open.”
Asked what the path for ending the shutdown is, Thune said “we just need five more Democrats,” and reiterated his belief that the Democratic leadership will not be dictating the final resolution.
“If this happens, I think it happens through the rank-and-file Democrats who come to the conclusion that this isn’t in anybody’s best interest, and I think that’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s always a matter of time.”
Thune said elections in several states next week could provide a catalyst for resolving the standoff.
“I think it will make a difference. You have to get past Tuesday. You’ve got those two off-year elections in New Jersey and Virginia. I think there’s a lot of attention being paid to, we don’t want to suppress turnout by appearing like supposedly we’ve caved or folded or something like that,” he said, referring to Democrats. “I mean, I don’t view it that way, through that lens. Unfortunately, I think this is about real people who are being hurt every day by this government shutdown … If it is about politics, hopefully after next week, maybe it gets a little bit easier.”
What the Senate is voting on today
The Senate will convene at 10 a.m. and hold a series of votes beginning at 11:45 a.m. A vote on the House-passed continuing resolution is not currently on the schedule.
Senators will first consider a resolution about the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and then take up a Democratic measure challenging the emergency declaration that President Trump has used to impose tariffs around the world.
The Senate has passed two resolutions this week that would block the president’s tariffs on Brazil and Canada, with each attracting the support of a handful of Republicans. The resolutions require a simple majority to pass, but are mostly symbolic, since they’re not expected to be taken up by the House.
Vance to lead White House roundtable on shutdown’s impact on air travel
Vice President JD Vance will lead a roundtable at the White House on Thursday focused on how the shutdown is impacting air travel, a White House official said.
He will be joined by Transportation Secretary Duffy, Airlines for America CEO and former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and other industry leaders, the official said.
Duffy has been raising alarms over the shutdown’s impact on the aviation industry, warning that staffing shortages are leading to intermittent cancellations and delays as air traffic controllers call off work. The controllers have not been paid since the shutdown began.
Shutdown could become longest in history next week
The shutdown, now on Day 30, could become the longest shutdown in history next week, eclipsed only by the 34-day 2018-19 shutdown.
Shutdowns are a relatively recent phenomenon and have only begun in their current form in 1980. The longest shutdown, which began in December 2018, involved Mr. Trump’s demand for funds to pay for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Trump heads back to Washington amid shutdown impasse
President Trump is heading back to Washington Thursday after a three-country visit in Asia. His return comes as Democrats have criticized the president for being away from the U.S. during the nearly monthlong shutdown.
Thune says a “higher level of conversation” is happening among senators
For the first time in weeks, senators expressed cautious optimism on Wednesday about talks aimed at ending the shutdown.
After Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Wednesday morning that talks among rank-and-file senators have “ticked up significantly,” saying a “higher level of conversation” is taking place at the member level, senators weighed in more freely with hints of optimism throughout the day.
GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested that the shutdown could end next week, telling reporters “I think it is coming to a close.” And a number of other senators spoke of improved talks, as key deadlines put pressure on both sides to reach a resolution to reopen the government.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, told reporters she’s more optimistic. She said there’s been a “significant uptick in bipartisan conversation,” reiterating what Thune said earlier in the day. Sen. Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, pointed to the impact of rising health insurance premiums, saying “obviously now people are starting to see the impact of these increases now that prices are coming out.”
While the question of reopening the government remains top of mind, senators are also considering broader funding, seeking an agreement on some full-year appropriations bills. And the conversations come as Republican leaders have made clear they won’t negotiate with Democrats, who have demanded an extension of health insurance tax credits, until the government is reopened.
Thune reiterated to reporters Wednesday evening that “the conditions we’ve stated are the same ones,” saying Democrats must reopen the government before negotiating on health care.
