Copyright Salt Lake City Deseret News
WASHINGTON — Senate Republican leaders emerged from a lunch with President Donald Trump cautiously optimistic that the government shutdown could be nearing an end as Democrats open the door to talks and possible negotiations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters after Tuesday’s lunch that he is “hopeful” lawmakers can break through the 21-day impasse sometime this week, noting he will give Democrats “several opportunities” to reopen the government with future votes. The sense of confidence comes after talks appeared to be completely stalled coming into this week and both parties remained dug in on their opposite sides. Thune reiterated his stance from last week that he is willing to offer Democrats a vote on extending the enhanced Obamacare tax subsidies, Democrats’ main demand, to buy time for more comprehensive negotiations at a later date. But the top Senate Republican has been adamant Democrats must first vote to reopen the government — a position he seemed to uphold on Tuesday. “If the Democrats want to talk about subjects unrelated to the government to get the government open again, we’re happy to have those conversations,” Thune said. “But we’ve repeatedly now gone through this and at some point, the Democrats are going to have to take yes for an answer.” Bipartisan talks resurrected amid standoff Some Democrats at the center of bipartisan talks also signaled hope on Tuesday that a deal is around the corner, with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., telling reporters that “people have moved on both sides.” She declined to go into further detail, but Shaheen has been a prominent Democratic figure in the spending talks to find common ground with Republican leaders. Among the off-ramps being discussed is whether to hold side-by-side votes that would appease both Republicans and Democrats. One vote would extend the COVID-19-era Obamacare tax subsidies for one year with a commitment to pass a longer-term solution at a later date. The other vote would be to reopen the government through the Republican continuing resolution. But Democratic leaders have so far rejected that offer, instead looking for a more guaranteed outcome. “The bottom line is that’s no deal. That’s a partisan plan that leaves the American people high and dry,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Tuesday. “We have to get them to the table and negotiate with us now.” Democrats want to meet with Trump Schumer said he and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., reached out to Trump on Tuesday requesting a meeting to “negotiate with us to resolve the health care crisis — address it and end the government shutdown.” Republicans have indicated the president would be willing to talk once the government is reopened. The Democratic leaders last met with Trump on Sept. 29 at the White House alongside Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to discuss the Obamacare subsidies. That meeting ended without a deal, and bipartisan talks between the top party leaders have been scarce. However, Jeffries told the Deseret News on Monday he spoke with Johnson over the weekend, although he didn’t elaborate on what was discussed. Johnson’s office declined to share details from a private conversation. It’s not clear if or when Trump would be willing to meet with congressional leaders, although the president made clear in his public remarks at Tuesday’s lunch that Republicans should continue messaging that the shutdown is Democrats’ fault. “Chuck Schumer and the Democrats need to vote for a clean bipartisan CR and reopen our government. It’s got to be reopened right now,” Trump said. “They are the obstructionists, and the reason they are doing it is because we’re doing so well. We’re doing so well all over the world.” Republican leaders told reporters on Tuesday evening they advised the president to take a meeting but only after the government is reopened. “He believes as we do. He is open and willing to meet,” Johnson said. “As soon as they open the government.” Democrats remain opposed to Republicans’ alternative plans Meanwhile, Democrats have rejected Republicans’ alternative spending proposals, expressing widespread distrust of the Trump administration. Democrats last week tanked a procedural vote to proceed on the full-year appropriations bill for the Defense Department, arguing they wouldn’t support the legislation without knowing the details of what policies Republicans planned to add later. Senate Republicans will also move this week to pass a bill that would allow “excepted” federal workers to be paid during the shutdown, including military pay and other essential positions. But some Democrats have said they won’t support the bill, citing concerns it would empower Trump to pick and choose which workers are paid. Only essential employees, meaning those who are currently working without pay, would be included under the legislation — prompting concerns from some Democrats that all federal employees, even those who are furloughed, receive a paycheck. But Republicans, particularly bill sponsor Sen. Ron Johnson, say that would cost too much money and de-incentivize reopening the government. The bill would require at least seven Democrats to advance past a filibuster. Meanwhile, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said he is planning another bill to pay workers during the shutdown — noting his iteration would include all federal employees. It’s not clear when that counter-legislation would be filed. The Republican-led bill will receive a vote either Wednesday or Thursday.
