{"id":18820,"date":"2025-10-20T21:57:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-20T21:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=18820"},"modified":"2025-10-20T21:57:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T21:57:20","slug":"hostages-gop-senators-say-schumers-shutdown-tactics-destroying-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cndailynews.store\/?p=18820","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Hostages\u2019: GOP Senators Say Schumer\u2019s Shutdown Tactics Destroying Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This article may contain commentary
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Senate Republicans are concerned about the precedent established by Senate Democrats regarding future spending disputes as the shutdown enters its 20th day.<\/p>\n

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democratic caucus have firmly entrenched themselves in their demand for an extension of expiring Obamacare subsidies, reframing the discourse from a struggle to finance the government to a contentious confrontation over healthcare.<\/p>\n

It has been more than three weeks since Schumer and the Democrats obstructed the Republicans\u2019 initial effort to enact the House GOP\u2019s continuing resolution (CR). Since that time, there have been no indications that Democrats are prepared to relent on their demands.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think Schumer has basically sort of destroyed the institution of the Senate,\u201d Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., told Fox News. \u201cHe has, you know, whether it\u2019s what he\u2019s done on the nominees or with this shutdown. I think he\u2019s made government unmanageable. So, hopefully, this is not the way we continue to operate.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Senate Republicans now perceive the Democrats\u2019 stance on the shutdown as an act of hostage-taking, with no substantial basis for negotiations until the government reopens.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t negotiate with them until we come out of shutdown,\u201d Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t hold the government hostage. And that\u2019s why it\u2019s very important \u2014 we\u2019ve said we\u2019ll work on all these different issues they want to bring up. But you can\u2019t shut down the government, hold the government hostage as part of negotiation,\u201d Hoeven added.<\/p>\n

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The informal discussions, which Republicans emphasize are not comprehensive negotiations, have yielded a conciliatory gesture from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who indicated to Senate Democrats that he would provide them a vote on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits in exchange for their support in reopening the government.<\/p>\n

Last week, for the tenth time, they obstructed his attempt to restore the lights and subsequently impeded a procedural motion to enable members to deliberate on the annual defense budget measure.<\/p>\n

In both cases, Democrats sought assurances that Thune and the Republicans were unable to furnish.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Dems, someday, they\u2019re going to rue the day they did this, because we have offered up an open appropriations process, regular order, doing things that way,\u201d Thune told Fox News.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s unfortunate, but it\u2019s a reality that we\u2019re dealing with,\u201d he continued. \u201cAnd I hope they change their mind and realize that it\u2019s in everybody\u2019s best interest to try and at least get the government open and then start going to work and funding the government the old-fashioned way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Numerous Republicans anticipated that following the \u201cNo Kings\u201d event in Washington, D.C., over the weekend, Senate Democrats would reconsider their stance.<\/p>\n

Conversely, some perceive it as a performative opportunity for congressional Democrats to demonstrate their resistance against President Donald Trump and the GOP.<\/p>\n

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said last week that at least two additional Senate Democrats are in discussions to break ranks with Schumer.<\/p>\n

The partial government shutdown has now nearing three weeks.<\/p>\n

So far, only three Senate Democrats \u2014 John Fetterman (PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), and Angus King (ME), an independent who caucuses with Democrats \u2014 have joined Republicans in supporting efforts to release federal funds. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) remains the lone Republican holdout.<\/p>\n

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