President Trump called on Senate lawmakers to stay in session until the government shutdown ends. It’s currently the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
“The United States Senate should not leave town until they have a Deal to end the Democrat Shutdown. If they can’t reach a Deal, the Republicans should terminate the Filibuster, IMMEDIATELY, and take care of our Great American Workers!” Trump wrote in a social media post on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer laid out an offer saying Democrats would agree to end the shutdown in exchange for a one-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies and a stopgap bill, along with three full-year funding bills.
“Democrats have said we must address the health care crisis, but Republicans have repeatedly said they won’t negotiate to lower the health care costs until the government reopens,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “So let’s find a path to honor both positions.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune was quick to reject the Democrats’ proposal, saying the offer was a “nonstarter.”
“I guess you could characterize that as progress,” Thune told reporters. “But I just don’t think it gets anywhere close to what we need to do here.”