Congressional Democrats are marching in lockstep into the fourth week of a authorities shutdown, even as lawmakers brace for what could possibly be probably the most painful level but — a cutoff in federal food aid for greater than 40 million folks.
But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are signaling that there might be no change in technique: Democrats received’t present the votes to reopen the federal government until their calls for over well being care are met. And they’re more and more hammering President Donald Trump for his failure to sit down to negotiate with Democrats, whereas as an alternative embarking on his second international journey up to now in the course of the shutdown.
“This is all Trump,” a visibly annoyed Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont advised NCS. “Trump’s not engaged. Republicans won’t negotiate,” Welch mentioned, arguing that Trump’s journey to Asia this week as “an indication of how he could care less.”
A fired-up Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia was much more blunt, calling it “outrageous” that Trump would take one other international journey with the federal government shut down.
“The message is, frankly, President Trump: ‘Stay in America. Put America first. Sit down with us and work this out’,” Warner mentioned.
Democrats are sustaining fierce unity publicly and privately, with lawmakers and senior aides telling NCS that they’re ready to follow the social gathering’s technique for the close to future. The widespread perception amongst Hill Democrats is that Republicans might be compelled to cave first, notably as they anticipate thousands and thousands of Americans will discover out their well being care premiums are spiking when open enrollment begins on November 1.
But there’s one other main deadline coming firstly of November. Washington is about to face what could possibly be probably the most important impact of the shutdown to date, with roughly 42 million people at risk of shedding crucial food aid via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
“We understand this is not easy, and this is going to be painful,” Rep. Pete Aguilar, the No. 3 House Democrat, advised NCS when requested concerning the SNAP deadline, which is inflicting deep anxiousness throughout Washington. “Everybody is feeling this, and I think that our message to the American public is, we’re fighting to protect your health care.”
The US Department of Agriculture mentioned Sunday it is not going to use its $6 billion contingency fund to cowl food stamp advantages subsequent month as the federal government shutdown continues.
“Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01,” a statement on the USDA’s website reads.
When requested Friday whether or not he would direct the USDA to fund food stamps subsequent month, Trump advised reporters: “Yeah, everybody is going to be in good shape, yep.”
The president didn’t present additional particulars, however his feedback appear to battle with the company’s assertion.
Behind the scenes, GOP lawmakers and senior aides imagine the White House is keen to discover a way to preserve these SNAP funds flowing to the poorest Americans. Members of each events — together with GOP and Democratic governors — have been furiously pushing the White House to discover a manner to keep away from that end result, in accordance to two folks conversant in the discussions.
Democrats insist Trump can save this system if he needs to. And they’re ripping the White House for its $20 billion bailout to Argentina whereas the large food aid program stays in danger.
“Not a single American should go hungry. And the challenge that we confront right now is that Donald Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill are trying to weaponize hunger in order to jam their extreme right wing policies in their spending bill down the throats of the American people,” Jeffries advised reporters on Friday, arguing that the Trump administration has roughly $5 billion in an emergency contingency fund that could possibly be used for the SNAP program.
As a part of their stress marketing campaign, dozens of Democrats signed a letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Friday, arguing that the administration has the prevailing funds and authority to totally fund SNAP advantages.
Rollins, nevertheless, has said that there is not going to be sufficient funds for the food aid advantages for thousands and thousands by November 1 if Congress doesn’t act.
One GOP lawmaker — Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley — is so involved about SNAP that he has launched laws to fund this system in the course of the shutdown. Leavitt mentioned Thursday the administration would support the bill, however it’s not clear whether or not it’s going to come up.
Asked on Thursday whether or not Trump ought to work to alleviate among the stress factors in the shutdown, like SNAP advantages, one other GOP senator urged there could also be some procedural hurdles to doing so.
“I think it’s simpler said than done,” Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall responded, including, “On the one hand, there needs to be some pressure to put on the Democrats to come to the table and do something.”
Marshall, who can also be an obstetrician-gynecologist, mentioned he had a “lot of concern” concerning the SNAP and WIC program. He noticed, “It is very important to my practice. Lots of pregnant women, breastfeeding women use that program as well. I think it’s a good pressure point for them.”
GOP Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri mentioned the answer for the shutdown’s numerous stress factors was “for the Democrats to vote to fund the government.”