Government shutdown enters fifth week as federal worker paydays loom

Washington is coming into its fifth week of a authorities shutdown, and regardless of a handful of deadlines for federal staff quickly approaching, little progress has been made towards turning the lights again on.

The Senate is anticipated to vote once more this week on a Home-passed plan to reopen the federal government, however has did not advance the persevering with decision (CR) 12 instances.

As earlier than, the laws – which might reopen the federal government till November 21 – is anticipated to fail once more. The identical dispute that led to the closure practically a month in the past stays unresolved.

DEMOCRATS EYE KEY OBAMACARE DEADLINE AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN ENTERS 4TH WEEK

Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, have continued to oppose Senate Republicans of their bid to reopen the federal government. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photos)

Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, desire a rock-solid deal to increase expiring Obamacare premium subsidies, whereas Senate Republicans wish to deal with the difficulty solely after the federal government reopens.

Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., argued that Democrats’ place had little to do with the precise premium tax credit, nor a need for negotiations.

“It is politics,” he stated.

“Properly, they’d such as you to imagine it is about well being care,” he stated on the Senate flooring final week. “It isn’t. Republicans have been very clear that we’re keen to have a dialogue about well being care, simply not whereas authorities funding and all of the federal staff that include it are held hostage. So if this had been actually about well being care, Democrats would vote for a clear CR because the quickest strategy to reopen the federal government.”

In the meantime, payday deadlines for air visitors controllers, navy personnel and a funding cliff for federal meals help applications loom.

Air visitors controllers are anticipated to overlook their first full paycheck on Tuesday after being partially paid earlier this month.

BUDGET DISASTER SCENARIO DURING THE LOCK-OFF SENDS GOP IN SEARCH OF A NEW SPENDING PLAN

Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., argued that Democrats’ place had little to do with the precise premium tax credit. (Nathan Posner/Anadolu by way of Getty Photos)

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Chairman Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has a invoice that will fill this funding hole and is anticipated to return up for a vote this week. Nevertheless, Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., has not but made the choice.

Then there may be navy payday on October thirty first. President Donald Trump earlier this month supplied billions in funding to cowl troops’ paychecks, however that cash just isn’t anticipated to cowl the approaching pay cycle.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis.’s invoice to pay troops and “excepted” federal workers — that’s, federal workers who’re at present working throughout the shutdown however not being paid — was blocked by Senate Democrats final week.

Nevertheless, there may be an effort between Johnson and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., to deliver a brand new model of the invoice to the ground. Van Hollen additionally tried to get his personal invoice handed final week to pay federal staff and troops, however was blocked.

Van Hollen, like different Senate Democrats, warned that Johnson’s model of the invoice would give Trump and Workplace of Administration and Price range (OMB) Director Russ Vought a “clean verify on who they’ll ship dwelling and who they’ll punish by not paying.”

SCHUMER Blocks Republican Social gathering’s Twelfth Try to Reopen Authorities, Whereas TRUMP Says Democrats ‘Misplaced the Negotiations’

Washington is coming into its fifth week of a authorities shutdown, and regardless of a handful of deadlines for federal staff quickly approaching, little progress has been made towards turning the lights again on. (Getty Photos)

“None of our federal workers, service members or contractors need to be punished for this authorities shutdown,” Van Hollen stated in an announcement to Fox Information Digital. “I’ll proceed to work to make sure this isn’t the case.”

And on November 1, the identical day open enrollment for Obamacare begins, funding for meals stamps or the Supplemental Diet Help Program (SNAP) is anticipated to expire.

In the meantime, Senate Democrats suffered one other blow to their united entrance because the shutdown continues of an out of doors ally that donates hundreds of thousands of {dollars} to Democratic political motion committees and candidates.

The American Federation of Authorities Staff, the nation’s largest union of federal workers representing greater than 800,000 staff, demanded that Democrats swallow Republicans’ clear CR to reopen the federal government.

Everett Kelley, president of the large union, stated in an open letter Monday that the most effective path ahead was to “instantly reopen the federal government underneath a clear, persevering with decision that permits for continued debate on bigger points,” and be certain that each federal worker who labored or was furloughed throughout the shutdown will get their wages again.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“As a result of when the individuals who serve this nation are lining up on the meals banks after lacking a second paycheck due to this shutdown, they don’t seem to be on the lookout for a partisan spin,” Kelley stated. ‘They’re after the wages they earned. The truth that they’re being deceived by it is a nationwide disgrace.”

“It’s long gone time for our leaders to place apart occasion politics and embrace accountable authorities,” he continued. “A robust America wants a functioning authorities – ​​one which pays its payments, fulfills its obligations and treats its staff with respect by paying them on time.”