House Republicans 'On Vacation' During Shutdown Fight, Says Dem Rep.

Democratic Representative from California Sam Liccardo said the two parties can negotiate an end to the shutdown if House Speaker Mike Johnson is willing to call the chamber back into session and allow talks.

With Congress still at an impasse over how to re-open the government, Democrats are pushing for financial relief for federal employees missing paychecks, including extensions on their tax payments.

“It’s not their fault,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters Tuesday night. Schatz said he wants this relief to be included in any deal to end the government shutdown that started Oct. 1.

Schatz and House Budget Committee Ranking Member Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) have introduced bills (S. 2982 / H.R. 5708) to allow federal workers furloughed or working without pay during a shutdown to seek a court stay when they’d otherwise be required to pay taxes or make other loan, rent, or insurance payments.

Under the legislation, workers impacted by a shutdown would get three months from the end of that episode to pay any taxes that otherwise would have been owed at the time.

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