02 U.S. Politics

Senate Majority Leader John Thune placed the Shutdown Fairness Act on the calendar, and it should come up for a vote as the shutdown enters its fourth week. The measure would provide backpay and ongoing wages to military servicemembers and essential federal workers who have not been furloughed. Seems like something Democrats should jump on because they claim to support our troops and federal workers. But a reporter asked him whether he would encourage his Democratic colleagues to support the legislation, Jeffries dismissed the bill as inadequate.

“It’s my understanding that that is not a comprehensive bill that actually is designed to reopen the government, while at the same time, addressing the issues that need to be confronted on behalf of the American people, which include lowering the high cost of living and decisively addressing the Republican healthcare crisis,” Jeffries said. The minority leader’s response signals that Democrats remain dug in on their demands for a broader package that includes extensions of Affordable Care Act tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of the year.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise put Sen. Jon Ossoff on blast at a press conference Tuesday, accusing him and fellow Senate Democrats of refusing to reopen the government as a campaign fundraising tool and out of fear of their base of support.

“It truly is fear, fear of their own party’s base that has driven the Democrats, especially in the Senate, to shut down the government,” Scalise, R-La., told reporters. “It’s a calculated decision, and the continued votes, including yesterday, to keep the government shut down, has been a direct result of the fear Democrats continue to have of their own party’s base.”