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WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - As the government shutdown stretches into its fourth full week, the finger-pointing between parties continues as one lawmaker stages a protest again President Trump on the Senate floor. Tuesday night into Wednesday evening, Democratic Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley held the Senate floor, protesting what he calls President Donald Trump’s “grave threats to democracy” in the form of a marathon speech. Starting just before 6:30 EST Tuesday, Sen. Merkley’s speech ultimately ended at 5:00 PM Wednesday, stretching for 22 and a half hours: one of the longest senate speeches in U.S. history. “We’re in the most perilous moment, the biggest threat to our republic since the Civil War,” Sen. Merkley said. “This is an extraordinarily dangerous moment. An authoritarian president proceeding to attack free speech, attack free press, weaponize the Department of Justice, and use it against those who disagree with him.” The hours-long remarks came as a jolt of action for the stalled Upper Chamber, which has now failed 12 votes on passing a funding bill to reopen the federal government. On the other side of the Capitol, House leaders continue the blame game, with both Republicans and Democrats dancing around extending Affordable Care Act subsidies – the main issue at the heart of the shutdown - just days before open enrollment. “Republicans have zero interest, none, in addressing the healthcare crisis that they’ve created that is devastating people all across the country,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D, NY) in a press conference Wednesday. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R, LA), also commented on the tax credits: “Clearly, this is a complicated thing, this whole health care subsidy thing. There are hundreds of different views on it, as I’ve explained. So, Republicans cannot and will not solve it in a backroom deal.” October 22nd marks a significant shift in the government shutdown, now officially the second longest of any kind in U.S. history.
