Senators at the Capitol continued to express cautious optimism about the state of conversations to end the shutdown on Thursday.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, told reporters he’s “seeing some movement,” noting that “there’s a lot of negotiating going on right now among members.”
“I’ve seen more discussions. Some of the Democrats I’ve talked to are exasperated themselves and see no real benefit, politically or otherwise,” Cramer said. “And I think they are ready, perhaps after next week’s elections, to vote yes.”
Cramer argued that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has organized Democrats against the House-passed measure to reopen the government because “his left flank has him scared.”
“But I think his normal flank is starting to exert a little bit of their influence, and it’s time for them to push the easy button and open the government, start negotiating these other things that they say they care about,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, said there are ongoing conversations, which “may be becoming more serious because the shutdown is imposing greater and increasing loss.” But he said talks “will go nowhere if Republicans remain completely intransigent and resistant to any compromise on extending the health care coverage.”
Blumenthal said that he’s hopeful the president’s return to Washington will kickstart an end to the shutdown. “There’s an easy, ready path to reopening the government if Donald Trump shows some leadership,” he said.
“This shutdown could end the moment he lands, if he simply gives a thumbs up as he walks down the ramp,” the Connecticut Democrat said.
Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, said he’s been having conversations with Republican and Democratic colleagues, noting that the off-ramp is, “let’s get the president actually in a room, let’s get him to focus on this for more than an hour.”
Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, a GOP appropriator, reiterated that “once they open up government, then a lot of other negotiations can go on.” He said there are ways to give Democrats a path forward, including “going directly back to the appropriations process.” But on the timing of a resolution, Rounds said he thinks Democrats are “waiting for a particular day in which they’ll release some folks” to support the measure to reopen the government.
Grace Kazarian and Kaia Hubbard
