Government Shutdown: Senate Democrats reject government funding bill for 10th time

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats on Thursday rejected a stopgap spending bill for the tenth time, holding firm on demands that Congress address health care benefits before reopening the government.

Government shutdown day 16

The measure failed in a 51-45 vote, which was short of the 60 needed to advance under Senate filibuster rules.

The Senate’s repeated votes on the funding bill have become a daily routine. 

At times, it’s been the only item on the chamber’s agenda, while House Republicans have left Washington entirely. 

The standoff has dragged on for more than two weeks, furloughing hundreds of thousands of federal workers, and leaving many more without a guaranteed paycheck.

"Every day that goes by, there are more and more Americans who are getting smaller and smaller paychecks," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

Flight delays continue

Thune added that there have been thousands of flight delays connected to the shutdown across the country as well.

Thune, a South Dakota Republican, has repeatedly urged Democrats to abandon their strategy of blocking the stopgap funding bill.

While bipartisan talks on health care have continued, little progress toward ending the shutdown has been made. 

Thune has offered to hold a future vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, but said he couldn’t "guarantee a result or an outcome." 

Democrats say they won’t support a funding deal until Congress guarantees an extension of tax credits for health plans. They warn that millions of Americans, including small business owners, farmers, and contractors, could face steep premium hikes when new rates are released in the coming weeks. 

With a November 1 deadline approaching in most states, they believe voters will pressure Republicans to negotiate.

"The ACA crisis is looming over everyone's head, and yet Republicans seem ready to let people's premiums spike," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer during a floor speech. 

Meanwhile, Thune tried a new approach Thursday by pushing a vote to proceed with appropriations bills, a move that could either push Senate action or widen the divide.

"No Kings" protests scheduled despite shutdown

Large anti-climb fencing is going up around the White House complex on Thursday ahead of the "No Kings" protests.

The protests, by opponents of President Donald Trump’s administration, are expected to draw between 100,000 and 200,000 people to the nation’s capital.

FOX 5’s Melanie Alnwick says there are a few gates at Lafayette Park, but by Saturday these will probably be locked and closed.

The No King's movement has thousands of events planned across the country with one of the flagship events planned for Pennsylvania Avenue. The demonstration was planned prior to the government shutdown, but organizers say the events of the last few months have given it even more meaning.

Judge stops fed worker firings

A federal judge in San Francisco has ordered the Trump administration to stop firing federal workers during the ongoing government shutdown.

The judge said the layoffs appear politically motivated and poorly justified, according to the Associated Press. In her ruling Wednesday.

The judge believes evidence will ultimately show the cuts were unlawful and exceeded the administration’s authority.