BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The government shutdown now is well into its second week, with the U.S. Senate voting Wednesday on competing Republican and Democratic funding proposals.
It was the sixth failed vote, and today is officially Day 9 of the shutdown, with no hint of progress toward a resolution.
“It feels like Congress has been dysfunctional for a lifetime," Tom Shortell says in the opening of this week’s Political Pulse.
"But right now, in the middle of a federal shutdown, achieving dysfunction is an aspirational goal.”
Both parties’ leaders blame each other for the shutdown, which began Oct. 1.
Political scientist Chris Borick joined Tom again this week to try to make sense of the stalemate and what it all means.
Borick said the Democrats “have really gone to the mat on the issue of health care,” particularly on an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies that are expiring.
On the other hand, a share of Republicans — fiscally conservative Republicans — “have been fairly reticent … to want to go down that path,” he said.
“Right now, as we speak, I think that’s probably the biggest roadblock to any type of deal.”
What’s more, Democrats believe they have the high ground, Borick said.
“They got public support, they have … tens of millions of folks in this category” where they’re affected by the crisis in American healthcare.
What could happen to health care premiums, Borick said, is a “stark piece of evidence for a lot of people.”
Republicans need about eight votes from senators in the Democratic caucus to even pass a short-term funding measure.
The White House has warned that federal workers may be fired, and also floated the possibility of denying back pay to furloughed workers if the shutdown continues.
To learn more, check out the latest episode of Political Pulse in the video player above.
