Senate Democrats block bill to pay federal workers as GOP rejects their proposal to end shutdown

Senate Democrats on Friday blocked a bill to pay federal workers who’ve gone without compensation during the 38-day government shutdown, after Republicans rejected Democrats’ offer to reopen the government with a one-year extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies.

The moves suggest an end to the recording-breaking funding impasse is not imminent, but the Senate is planning to stay in session through the weekend in hopes that something breaks loose.

The 53-43 vote to begin debate on a bill to pay government workers fell short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster.

Three Democrats voted with all Republicans in support of the measure, while others argued it needed more guardrails to prevent the Trump administration from moving money around.

Earlier Friday, Democrats offered to end the shutdown if Republicans added a one-year extension of enhanced Obamacare premium subsidies to a stopgap spending bill needed to reopen the government.

“The Senate could do this within a few hours,” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat, said. “This is a reasonable offer.”

The Democratic offer included plans for a bipartisan committee to work on long-term “reforms” to address health care costs, while honoring Republicans’ request not to start negotiations until after the shutdown ends by simply extending current law for one year, he said.

Republicans said the proposal was a “nonstarter” and they won’t let Democrats hold government funding “hostage” to secure unrelated policy demands. They also said the subsidies need to be overhauled so government money isn’t used to pad the profits of insurance companies or pay for plans that cover abortions.

“That’s what we’re going to negotiate, once the government opens up,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican.

As the stalemate continues, the two parties couldn’t even agree on a measure to pay federal workers who have gone without compensation for more than a month amid the record-breaking shutdown.

Democrats said they want to pay federal workers but argued the bill to do so from Sen. Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican, would give President Trump too much power because it would not include language preventing him from transferring money meant for paychecks elsewhere.

“The Johnson bill before us actually creates an unlimited and permanent slush fund for President Trump to use,” said Sen. Gary Peters, Michigan Democrat, noting it “omits the regular safeguards that we include in normal funding bills to ensure that money actually goes where Congress intends.”

Mr. Johnson said “there is no slush fund,” and his bill is “completely silent on presidential authority.”

“The money appropriated in this bill will go to pay federal workers,” he said, arguing that if Democrats are not satisfied with the language they could vote to proceed to the bill and offer an amendment.

Most Democrats did not vote to proceed; the three who did were New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Luján and Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

Republicans expressed frustration with their colleagues across the aisle for keeping the government shuttered and not doing anything to help federal workers and others who are suffering from the shutdown’s consequences.

The Federal Aviation Administration has started reducing flights across the country because of the shutdown.

The government has run out or is nearing the end of its financial wiggle room to pay for many crucial government programs, like ones that help low-income families pay for groceries and utility bills.

“I just don’t know how you cannot have a heart to open up government,” said Sen. Rick Scott, Florida Republican.