Now on its 31st day, the shutdown is almost certain to extend into next week, with the Senate adjourned until Monday. While bipartisan talks between rank-and-file senators are expected to continue over the weekend, President Trump called on Senate Republicans to invoke the “nuclear option” to scrap the filibuster and end the government shutdown.
As he has before, President Trump urged Republicans, who hold 53 seats in the Senate, to dump the filibuster rule that requires 60 votes to get legislation to the floor. Eliminating the filibuster would allow Republicans to approve the House-passed continuing resolution (CR) without Democrats and reopen the government. Many lawmakers have long been opposed to doing away with the 60-vote threshold, arguing that it encourages bipartisan compromise.
In other shutdown news, American Airlines Group Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., and United Airlines this week called for passing the CR to extend current spending levels to reopen the government, as air traffic controllers work without pay and disruption grows at airports nationwide.
Senate Democrats continue to demand Republicans support funding for enhanced health insurance subsidies in exchange for voting in favor of legislation to end the impasse.
