Thune: Shutdown avoidable if Democrats dial back demands

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Thursday that a government shutdown remains avoidable if Democrats dial back their demands on health care, though he characterized those demands as unserious. In an interview with The Associated Press, Thune said there are off-ramps, but he warned that the Democrats’ current negotiating posture won’t get the country there. He said, “I’m a big believer that there’s always a way out,” and added that Democrats would have to “dial back” their demands, which include immediately extending health insurance subsidies and reversing health care policies in the tax bill Republicans passed over the summer. Absent that, Thune said, “we’re probably plunging forward toward the shutdown.”

The standoff comes as the White House and Congress face a Wednesday funding deadline, with Democrats pressing for protections tied to health care and subsidies while Republicans push a leaner approach to keep the government open while talks continue. The atmosphere grew tenser after the White House Office of Management and Budget released a memo suggesting agencies consider a “reduction in force” should a shutdown occur, a move Democrats denounced as a threat against federal workers. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York dismissed the memo as intimidation and predicted any unnecessary layoffs would be overturned in court or the administration would reverse course. Thune called the memo a hypothetical move and said it reflected the priorities of OMB’s head, Russ Vought, a longtime advocate for cutting government. “But it’s all avoidable,” Thune said. “And so if they don’t want to go down that path, there’s a way to avoid going down that path.”

![Senate floor and reporters]https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/ef6b0118-df9b-48b8-b588-1fa5c1de9489/wirestory_6b79cd64987b6173f1b3295dc3505994_16x9.jpg?w=1600

One potential path, Thune suggested, would be for enough Democrats to vote with Republicans for a stripped-down “clean” bill to keep the government open for the next seven weeks while negotiations on spending continue. That approach echoed a similar accord in March, when Schumer and several other Democrats joined Republicans to avert a shutdown — a move that came at political cost for Schumer when the party later revolted. A seven-week funding bill has already passed the House, but its fate in the Senate hinges on whether Democrats will accept a broader spending package or insist on their health care concessions. “What would eight Democrats be willing to support?” Thune asked, signaling that a bipartisan route could emerge if enough Democrats participate.

The math remains tight in the chamber. Republicans need at least seven Democrats to join them to reach the 60 votes required for a short-term funding package, and some GOP defections are possible. Several Republicans could oppose the short-term measure, and Democrats also floated their own competing bill that fell short of 60 votes in preliminary votes. Thune suggested that individual bipartisan bills to fund parts of the government for the next year could form the basis of a compromise, but such a package would require cooperation from both sides. Democrats have expressed frustration that Thune has not directly approached them to negotiate, even as Trump canceled a meeting with Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries that had been scheduled for this week. Thune said he did have a conversation with the president and offered his opinion on the meeting, but declined to disclose details. He also said the president could be open to negotiating on the expanded health care subsidies set to expire at year’s end if Democrats weren’t threatening a shutdown. Some Republicans agree with Democrats that keeping the subsidies is necessary, but Thune said any agreement will require reform to be a major component, and Democrats are unlikely to embrace such changes.

By Monday, when the Senate returns to session, lawmakers will have just over 24 hours to avoid federal closures. Thune said he intends to bring up the bills that were rejected last week and that “they’ll get multiple chances to vote,” before a government shutdown begins at midnight Wednesday. “I don’t think shutdowns benefit anybody, least of all the American people,” he said, underscoring the goal of finding a workable path to funding as negotiations continue.