Senate Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., have continued to dig in against Senate Republicans in their bid to reopen the government. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
In the background, Republicans are considering a series of one-off bills to pay the troops, certain federal workers, air traffic controllers and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, but whether they make it to the floor remains to be seen.
Thune threw cold water on the prospect of the piecemeal "rifle shots" coming to the floor. Republicans will discuss the bills during their closed-door lunch later Tuesday, which will be attended by Vice President JD Vance.
"There's not a high level of interest in doing carve-outs or so-called rifle shots," he said. "Most people recognize the way to get out of this mess is to open up the government."
Still, lawmakers with bills that could pay portions of the federal workforce were hopeful their legislation would get a shot. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, whose bill would pay air traffic controllers, said, "I certainly hope so," when asked if it would get a vote.
FLIGHT DELAYS WORSEN AS UNPAID AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS FEEL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN PAIN
Ranking Member Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks at a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 11, 2024. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Schumer railed against Republicans ahead of the vote, and blamed President Donald Trump for being overseas this week as a reason that no forward progress was being made on reopening the government.
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He also went after Thune for again bringing the same bill to the floor and reiterated that Democrats’ position, which is to get an ironclad deal to extend expiring Obamacare subsidies, hadn’t changed.
"It's a partisan bill and does nothing, most importantly, does nothing to solve the [Obamacare] crisis," Schumer said. "Just now, here on the floor, the Republican leaders seemed perplexed about what precisely it is that Democrats are pushing for. He knows damn well what Democrats want. It's the very same thing that a vast majority of Americans want, including nearly 60% of MAGA voters. We want lower healthcare costs now."
Alex Miller is a writer for Fox News Digital covering the U.S. Senate.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-again-blocks-gop-bid-reopen-government-air-traffic-controllers-go-unpaid