Government shutdown brings political reckoning for both parties in Congress

A review is coming.

Or should we say “accounts”.

And they’re coming, whether the government reopens soon or stays closed.

If the government remains closed, voters risk setting both parties on fire for not reaching a deal. Air traffic delays are piling up. These problems only intensify as Thanksgiving and Christmas approach. Not to mention multiple missed paychecks for federal employees, stress, economic consequences, and lack of SNAP benefits for the needy.

SCHUMER, DEMS UNVEIL ALTERNATIVE SHUTDOWN PLAN, REQUEST ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES

Some of these concerns will dissipate if lawmakers quickly address the shutdown issue. But there will be accountability if the closure extends into November.

There are likely specific accounts for both political parties.

For Republicans, this is a resistance from Republican leaders to address rising health care subsidies. Yes. The Republican Party makes a compelling argument that health care subsidies are only necessary because Obamacare is a problem and health care prices have skyrocketed. The Republicans are therefore back in the fight against Obamacare.

In fact, the total government shutdown is not about spending levels and appropriations. It’s a new challenge to the landmark law passed under President Obama in 2010. And Republicans — despite multiple campaign promises and dozens of efforts to defeat the law over a six-year period — have failed almost every time.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., criticized Senate Democrats for resisting an extension of government funding, and blasted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for trying to appease his “far-left” base with threats of shutdown. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Despite the problems with Obamacare, Democrats have annexed the public’s concerns about health care costs and linked it to government funding. Democrats appear to be the party trying to solve the problem as premiums rise. And the Republicans, despite promises to achieve this, are inert on the subject. They even support efforts to blast Obamacare — much like they did in 2010, when Congress passed the law.

Republicans cling to the concept that the subsidies “push money into the insurance companies,” as Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, said on Fox. Lankford also called those who benefited from Obamacare a “select group.” This represents approximately 24 million people. That’s seven percent of the U.S. population. So maybe this burns the GOP politically. Maybe not.

A major assessment also looms for the Democrats.

It’s possible that a coalition of Democratic senators could break with the Democratic Party and support a new GOP plan to reopen the government on a temporary basis. Nowhere is it written that the Democrats – who shut down health care – are guaranteed a result on Obamacare subsidies. Yes, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have said they will address the health care issue after the government opens. But this is not necessarily a solution.

Trump urges Senate Republicans to redirect funds from Obama-backed insurers and pay Americans directly

The Democrats are therefore furious.

So it’s quite possible that Democrats will refuse to fund the government in an effort to secure a concession on Obamacare subsidies – and leave empty-handed.

Such a result would trigger an internal storm within the Democratic Party. Progressives felt that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., set them back in March when he and a squadron of other Democrats helped the GOP end a filibuster to avoid a shutdown.

Schumer is unlikely to help this time. But Senate Republicans hope to convince just enough Democrats to overcome the filibuster on a pending test vote and then fund the government through the end of January.

It’s the Democrats’ account.

No results on health care. And get screwed by members of their own party.

Again.

Progressives will be apoplectic. And House Democrats will seethe — not so privately — at Senate Democrats.

President Donald Trump arrives at an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Evan Vucci/AP)

The Senate’s test vote on the new GOP proposal could take place as soon as Sunday evening. The revised package would also fund the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as Congress through September 30, 2026.

Fox is told that Republicans believe they can persuade shutdown Democrats to join them.

Fox learns that air traffic control and flight delays are contributing to Democrats’ dismay.

That said, GOP leaders in the Senate are believed to be reluctant to force a vote related to the revamped spending bill without guarantees it could break a filibuster. The last thing the Senate needs is another failed procedural vote – after repeatedly failed test votes over the past six weeks.

REPUBLICANS TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO OBAMACARE FAILURE AS SHUTDOWN ENTERS DAY 39

Let’s take a look at the timing:

Under the rules, if the Senate breaks the filibuster Sunday night, it is unlikely the House will be able to take a final vote on the package until Monday or Tuesday. But Fox is told there is a real possibility that Democrats will buy time to speed up the process in the interest of quickly reopening the government. Likewise, angry liberal senators could bleed the parliamentary clocks and try to amend the bill as they see fit – probably with Obamacare provisions.

The Senate must break another filibuster to finalize the bill. Then it’s the final passage. This only requires a simple majority. And even if some Democrats voted to prevent the filibuster, they might not support the underlying plan in the end. However, this is not a problem if Republican senators provide the necessary votes.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., right, brief reporters after their face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Then we will go to the House. The House’s position is unclear on this bill. However, it is hard to believe that most Republicans would not accept this deal. Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash. and Jared Golden, Democrat of Maine, are among the moderate Democrats who could be in play to vote yes if the GOP loses a few votes. Golden was the only House Democrat to vote for the former interim spending bill on Friday, September 19. Golden has since announced his retirement.

Another big question:

Would the House elect Rep. Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., before or after the vote? Democrats will bawl if Johnson doesn’t swear in Grijalva before possible House vote

And as they say, it’s always a question of mathematics.

Grijalva’s inauguration brings the House to 433 members with two vacant seats. The distribution is 219 Republicans to 214 Democrats. That means the Republican Party can only lose two votes before needing help from Democrats.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Either way, the House won’t return until at least the middle of next week, if not later. It depends on how quickly the Senate can act, whether it has the votes to break a filibuster and the fate of the Obamacare issue.

All this is uncertain after 39 days of government paralysis.

And the only thing that is certain is the political record of the two parties.