For 34 days, the impasse between Congress and President Donald Trump has halted a number of federal programs, including those that help low-income Americans, pay U.S. troops and operate airports.
The new fiscal year began on October 1 with no legislation passed to fund these activities. Thousands of federal workers are now on furlough, and the battle has halted about $1.7 trillion in discretionary funds, about a third of total US annual spending.
“I’m optimistic,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, told reporters when asked about the prospects for ending the government shutdown that has left many federal employees without pay.
Asked if he was confident of ending the blockade, Thune, of South Dakota, held back, saying, “Don’t push it.”
This comment represented a small but significant change in tone. Democrats have tied the government funding to an extension of the US health insurance subsidy, which is on the verge of expiring.
Low-income families face food benefits running out or only partially funded.
“Based on, sort of, my sense of how these things work, I think we’re approaching a downward trajectory,” Thune said.
The second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin of Illinois, said, “I feel it too.” But he quickly added, “We’re still stuck with this assumption about what we’re going to do about health care costs.”
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins of Maine told reporters that progress had been made with Democrats offering concrete wording to break the impasse, and staffers from both parties were working over the weekend.
– This week I just feel better – she said.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
