The stalemate in US continues
Food aid has potentially been delayed or suspended for millions of Americans for the sixth straight week now as the chances to end the impasse the Republicans and Democrats have been engaged in seem bleak.
Though President Donald Trump is pushing senators to change senate rules to end the deadlock, Republicans have strongly rejected Trump’s calls since his first term, arguing that the rule requiring 60 votes to overcome any objections in the Senate is vital to the institution and has allowed them to stop Democratic policies when they are in the minority.
Notably, Democrats have voted thirteen times against reopening the government, denying Republicans the votes in the 53-47 Senate as they insist on negotiations to extend government health care subsidies that will be cut off at the end of the year. Republicans say they won’t negotiate until the government is reopened.
With the two parties at a standstill, the shutdown, now in its 33rd day, appears likely become the longest in history. The previous record was set in 2019, when Trump demanded that Congress give him money for a US-Mexico border wall.
Republicans are hoping that at least some Democrats will eventually give them the votes they need as they hold repeated votes on a bill to reopen the government.
Democrats have held together so far, but some moderates have been in talks with rank-and-file Republicans about potential compromises that could guarantee votes on health care in exchange for reopening the government. Republicans need five additional Democrats to pass their bill.
Interestingly, the coming week could also be crucial for Democrats as the open enrolment period for health care marketplaces governed by the Affordable Care Act opened on Nov 1 and people are already starting to see spikes in premium costs for the next year, meaning it may be too late to make immediate changes.
Democrats are also watching the results of gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey that will take place this week. As Democrats have pushed Trump and Republicans to negotiate, President Trump has showed little interest in doing so.
Ironically, the tug of war between the two parties is giving sleepless nights to the people who are dependent on governmental support in the US. As of now the 42 million Americans who receive SNAP benefits have been facing uncertain future and distress.
The Department of Agriculture also faced an uphill task as it planned to withhold $8 billion needed for payments to the food program last weekend until two federal judges ordered the administration to fund it.
