President Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on Senate Republicans. He’s pressing them to abolish the filibuster as the government shutdown continues into another week.
Hopes for a deal now seem more uncertain after Tuesday’s election results.
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Democrats swept those elections, resulting in gains they say validate their decision to hold the line until expired health care subsidies are addressed.
What officials are saying
Connecticut Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy said, “It would be very strange if on the heels of the American people rewarding Democrats for standing up and fighting, we surrendered without getting anything.”
He said Democrats are in an “enormously strong position right now.”
Still, some moderate Democrats are quietly working with Republicans on a way forward, insisting the election hasn’t changed their approach.
Meanwhile, Trump remains frustrated by the impasse and is pushing harder for Senate Republicans to act. He called the shutdown a major factor behind Republican losses on Tuesday.
“I don’t think it was good for Republicans. I don’t think it’s good. I’m not sure it was for anybody. But we had an interesting evening and we learned a lot,” Trump said. “ If you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor. Negative for the Republicans.”
The president has refused to meet with Democrats until the government reopens and is urging the Senate to end the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass any bill.
But Majority Leader John Thune said that’s not happening. He’s promising Democrats a vote on health care as part of any deal — one that would still be subject to filibuster rules.
