The top Democrats’ entreaty came ahead of the president’s weeklong Asia journey. The top congressional Democrats contacted President Donald Trump on Tuesday to request a meeting as the shutdown drags into a fourth week. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in comments to reporters after a closed-door caucus lunch that he and House Minority Leader … Read more
Informal bipartisan talks are nowhere close to ending the second-longest government closure in U.S. history. When Washington first woke up to a government shutdown earlier this month, there was one hope for a quick exit: A bipartisan clutch of rank-and-file senators were at least talking. There was reason for optimism. Past groups had evolved into … Read more
With a Nov. 21 stopgap getting stale, lawmakers are now eyeing a longer-term patch to end the shutdown. Republican congressional leaders are making plans for a new spending punt as the shutdown drags on, and any new version is likely to postpone the next deadline until 2026. House and Senate GOP leaders are debating a … Read more
The group discussed health care ideas, including expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune met with a group of GOP senators on Wednesday as Republicans quietly discuss possible paths forward on health care once the government reopens. The group met to talk about ideas including what to do about soon-to-expire Affordable Care … Read more
Sen. Josh Hawley said he would try to set up a vote if it doesn’t get formally scheduled ahead of a Nov. 1 cutoff for the nutrition benefits. Senate Republicans are discussing voting on a bill that would prevent millions of low-income Americans from losing access to food aid on Nov. 1. The bill from … Read more
After weeks of daily votes on the House-passed continuing resolution, Republican leaders are starting to mix it up a bit. The shutdown is going into next week — at least. And senators are getting restless. There’s little hope of movement anytime soon, with President Donald Trump leaving Washington Friday for a trip to Asia for … Read more
The pause in benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would begin in states from California to Arkansas just before the busy holiday season. Millions of low-income Americans will lose access to food aid on Nov. 1, when half of states plan to cut off benefits due to the government shutdown. Twenty-five states told POLITICO … Read more
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps feed more than 40 million people, will start to run out of funds Nov. 1. Missed paychecks, canceled infrastructure projects and mass firings haven’t yet convinced congressional Democrats to change their government shutdown stance. But they are now facing down another pressure point threatening a program they’ve long … Read more
The legislation would also do the same for TSA baggage screeners. Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has introduced a bill that would ensure air traffic controllers get paid during the ongoing government shutdown. S. 3031, whose text POLITICO obtained, is co-sponsored by Republican Sens. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). … Read more
They say the project is taking place “without legally required approvals or reviews.” A Virginia couple has gone to court to try to block President Donald Trump from proceeding with demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a new ballroom. Charles and Judith Voorhees filed a motion in Washington federal court … Read more