Copyright The New York Times
Senate Republicans were confident that the call on Monday from the largest federal employees union for an end to the government shutdown would finally nudge labor-allied Senate Democrats to move toward resolving the stalemate entering its fifth week. Democrats were instead mostly unmoved. Their bet was that news on Wednesday of soaring health care premiums because of expiring Obamacare tax credits might finally persuade Republicans to negotiate on extending the subsidies. That didn’t pan out either; G.O.P. leaders have so far refused — at least until the government reopens. Now the question is: What, if anything, can break the impasse that has led to federal workers being idled and force the warring parties to a solution? Several major inflection points are approaching, including the Nov. 1 start of Obamacare open enrollment, an imminent suspension of federal nutrition benefits for millions of struggling Americans and closely watched off-year elections next Tuesday that could be a gauge of political momentum. Both parties are eying these developments as moments that could create sufficient political anxiety to shake the status quo and encourage one side or both to relent.
