(NewsNation) — In an exclusive interview with NewsNation, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Democrats have to “free the hostage” and end the government shutdown before any negotiations can begin.
The shutdown has now lasted 14 days with no end in sight as both sides appear to be entrenched in their positions.
“Don’t take the federal government hostage,” Thune said of Democrats.
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Senate Republicans are holding out in hopes five Democrats will cross the aisle and allow them to pass a clean continuing resolution that maintains current funding levels.
Senate Democrats are demanding changes, the main one being an extension of COVID-era subsidies for people purchasing health insurance on the exchange. They have pointed to a Nov. 1 open enrollment deadline as justification for why the funding can’t wait.
“Honestly, I think there is a willingness and there are members on our side of the aisle as well as on the Democrat side who want to have that conversation about what we can do to make health care more affordable and accessible, but you have to open up the government,” Thune said.
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As the shutdown continues, the White House has begun the unprecedented move of laying off federal workers instead of simply furloughing them. President Donald Trump has also said he plans to cut “Democrat programs” if the shutdown continues.
Thune said it’s up to Democrats to come to the table and pass the Republican bill before any negotiations over health care can take place.
“This is not the way it is designed to work,” he said.
