Congress
Capitol agenda: At least they’re talking about talking
President Donald Trump and Democrats spent Monday afternoon giving reporters conflicting messages about whether they were talking to each other about the health care impasse at the center of the shutdown.
Long story short: They’re not.
But Trump’s suggestion that he was speaking with Democrats about their health care demands raised the possibility that an off-ramp might be in distant sight.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who has been engaged in bipartisan discussions with senators, said Monday Trump’s comments were “helpful” because “the president saying this is something that we need to address is important.”
But GOP leaders are sticking to their strategy: No talks till the government reopens. Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to keep pressure up by forcing daily votes on the House-passed CR, while Speaker Mike Johnson doesn’t plan on bringing the House back until the Senate acts.
Out of nowhere, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene added new pressure to GOP leaders Monday, calling them out for not prioritizing the expiration of ACA subsidies.
“Not a single Republican in leadership talked to us about this or has given us a plan to help Americans deal with their health insurance premiums DOUBLING!!!,” the Georgia Republican said in an X post that rocketed around Capitol Hill group chats.
One other thing the White House is eyeing to force movement is Trump’s threat to move ahead any day now with mass firings of federal workers.
But Democrats are largely unfazed — buoyed by encouraging early polling and the support of federal worker unions, who are already suing to block the move.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Monday night that blame for the layoffs “falls on Donald Trump’s shoulders … and the American people know that.”
What else we’re watching:
— What’s next in the funding fight: The Senate is expected to take its sixth vote Tuesday on dueling partisan stopgap funding bills. Meanwhile in the House, Johnson will host a news conference at 10 a.m., and Democratic leaders will meet at 6 p.m.
— Bondi heads to Blue Light News: Attorney General Pam Bondi will testify in front of Senate Judiciary at 9 a.m. Expect questions on everything from the Jeffrey Epstein files to an FBI probe that captured phone data belonging to GOP members of Congress as part of the investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
— Two years since Oct. 7 attack: Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) will host a 2 p.m. news conference announcing new legislation on the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. He’ll be joined by other members of Congress at the House Triangle.
Jordain Carney and Nicholas Wu contributed to this report.
A large contingent of House Republicans — encompassing hard-liners, Budget Committee members, panel chairs and party leaders — piled into Speaker Mike Johnson’s office Thursday afternoon to discuss a second party-line package, according to four people granted anonymity to share details of the private meeting.
Among the lawmakers attending were Budget Chair Jodey Arrington of Texas and Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger, also of Texas.
Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Byron Donalds of Florida, Tom McClintock of California and Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma were also on hand, alongside Pennsylvania Reps. Lloyd Smucker and Scott Perry.
“We’re definitely preparing to move forward,” Johnson said in an interview as he left the meeting, regarding the House GOP Conference’s plans to pursue another bill through the filibuster-skirting budget reconciliation process. “We’re talking about more details. Lots of work going on.”
One of the biggest issues members are trying to work through at the moment is how to close the wide gap between Republicans in the House and Senate. Most House Republicans want a more expansive bill with myriad conservative policy priorities to ride alongside war and defense funding, while the Senate GOP is largely pushing for a more narrowly-focused measure, according to the four people.
Senate Democrats rejected a GOP photo ID amendment Thursday, an issue that Republicans are eager to use as a cudgel in the midterms.
Senators voted 53-47 on the amendment from Ohio Sen. Jon Husted, which needed 60 votes to advance. Republicans wanted to add the language to their election bill, known as the SAVE America Act.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the amendment “would impose the single strictest voter ID law in America.”
“Stricter than Texas. Stricter than Florida. Stricter than any state in the country,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wants to clinch a bipartisan Department of Homeland Security funding agreement Thursday.
“I think the Dems are now in possession of what I think is our last and final” offer, Thune told reporters. “So let’s hope this gets it done.”
“We’re going to know soon,” he added.
The South Dakota Republican declined to discuss details of the offer but suggested it was similar to where the discussions were headed over the weekend. GOP senators then were looking at a bipartisan deal that would fund most of DHS but leave out funding for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.
That offer was rejected by Democrats. But two people granted anonymity to discuss the revised proposal said it, too, omitted only ERO money but included additional language to try to address some of Democrats’ concerns.
Spokespeople for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Senate is expected to vote again on the House-passed DHS bill Thursday afternoon. The House is also voting again on DHS funding Thursday and is planning to leave town Friday morning for a two-week holiday recess. Progress in the Senate could prompt House GOP leaders to stay in session in hopes of sending a bill to President Donald Trump.
Asked about the Senate vote, Thune said he hoped there would be “some finality in this real soon.”
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- House Republicans huddle with Johnson to plot party-line package
- Senate rejects voter ID
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