Shutdown 'Manufactured Chaos' by Dems, Says Indiana Sen. Todd Young

Republican Senator Todd Young called the shutdown a "manufactured crisis" created by Democrats and said negotiations on issues like health care subsidies can take place once the government is opened.

Democrats are standing firm in the face of President Donald Trump’s threats to leverage the US shutdown to fire thousands of federal workers and extract political revenge, with the two sides locked in a standoff that raises the prospects of lengthy furloughs and a prolonged disruption in government services.

The leaders of both parties are sticking to their talking points as the first shutdown in nearly seven years enters its third day. Lower-level negotiations have failed to strike a deal and another Senate vote Friday on a House-passed temporary spending bill is expected to fail.

The Senate is unlikely to hold votes over the weekend, almost certainly pushing the shutdown into the work week as the two parties blame the other for the failure to reach an accord.

It’s a turnabout for Democrats, who in March caved to Trump’s demands amid concerns that the newly inaugurated president was too powerful and popular to take on. Now, however, the party is betting that their efforts to protect Obamacare premium subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts will resonate with voters — and that the fight is worth the pain of Trump’s hard-ball tactics.

“The vindictive behavior by Donald Trump and his Republican minions as part of this shutdown only serves to highlight the cruelty of this administration,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters late Thursday.

Senate Democrats rejected a Republican spending bill, which will likely push the US government shutdown into next week.

The rejection marks the fourth time Democrats have rejected a temporary measure to open the government, with Republicans also blocking a Democratic alternative with added spending.

Democrats are standing firm in the face of President Donald Trump's threats to fire thousands of federal workers, with leaders arguing that the shutdown does not give the president the ability to fire people.

By Erik Wasson, Alicia Diaz and Maeve Sheehey (BGOV)

(Bloomberg) -- Senate Democrats on Friday rejected a Republican spending bill in a vote that will almost certainly push the US government shutdown into next week as the party stands firm in the face of President Donald Trump’s threats to fire thousands of federal workers and extract political revenge.

With the two sides locked in a standoff that raises the prospects of lengthy furloughs and a prolonged disruption in government services, senators left Washington for the weekend. Across the Capitol, House Republicans announced lawmakers would remain out of town for another week, with no votes planned until mid-October.

The leaders of both parties are sticking to their talking points as the first shutdown in nearly seven years stretches into its third day. Friday marked the fourth time Democrats have rejected a no-strings temporary measure to open the government through Nov 21. Republicans also blocked a Democratic alternative with $1.5 trillion in added spending, mostly on health care.

The resistance marks a turnabout for Democrats, who in March yielded to Trump’s demands amid concerns that the newly inaugurated president was too powerful and popular to take on. Now, however, the party is betting that their efforts to protect Obamacare premium subsidies and reverse Medicaid cuts will resonate with voters — and that the fight is worth the pain of Trump’s hard-ball tactics.

“The vindictive behavior by Donald Trump and his Republican minions as part of this shutdown only serves to highlight the cruelty of this administration,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters late Thursday.

Hopeful signs earlier in the week of a potential deal have faded as Trump’s threats only inflame partisan sniping and embolden Democrats. During an Oval Office meeting with congressional leaders on Monday, Jeffries said Trump was cordial, addressed him by his first name, and indicated support for fixing an American health-care system the president agreed was “broken.”

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