‘Negotiate With Us Now’: Democrats Demand GOP Bail Them Out Of Schumer-Caused Shutdown
Senate Democrats are rejecting Republican proposals to end the government shutdown, leading to accusations that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is holding the government hostage until all of his partisan demands are met.
A large number of Democrats told the Daily Caller News Foundation on Tuesday that they would not support ending the lockdown in exchange for a subsequent vote on their main policy demand: an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies that would expire at the end of the year. Democrats insisted Republicans couldn’t be trusted to vote on the subsidies and demand immediate action, even though the tax credits won’t expire until the end of the year. (RELATED: Democrats Hold Government Hostage to Maintain Pandemic Subsidies Forever)
“We have no reason to wait,” Connecticut Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal told the DCNF of Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s offer to hold a vote on expiring Obamacare subsidies. “In fact, to the contrary, we need a commitment now that tax subsidies for health care will be expanded because people are making decisions now about their health insurance and whether they can afford it.”
“I think one of the things that’s plaguing us right now is a lack of trust. And overcoming a lack of trust is about walking into a room, looking each other in the eye, and negotiating like adults,” Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin told DCNF. “And I’m willing to do it, but a promise that he [Thune] done to the media will not be enough.
Schumer also criticized Thune’s offer to hold a vote on expiring subsidies in exchange for Democrats ending the lockdown, arguing the proposal was “partisan.”
REPORTER: “Thune offers to negotiate the Affordable Care Act with you if you reopen the government. Why won’t you take the deal?”
SCHUMER: “At the end of the day, there is no agreement, it’s a partisan plan…” pic.twitter.com/0tOWc3YNyU
– Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 21, 2025
“At the end of the day, there is no deal,” Schumer told reporters Tuesday during his leadership news conference. “This is a partisan plan that leads the American people high and dry.”
“To them, later, that means never,” Schumer continued. “We need to bring them to the table and negotiate with us now. »
Although Thune has given Democrats a way out of ending the lockdown, a vote on Obamacare subsidies would likely face uncertain prospects in both chambers. No Republicans voted for the measures when they were signed into law under former President Joe Biden, and Republican lawmakers have argued that the subsidies need to be reformed to eliminate waste and abuse before considering an extension.
Democrats have also shown few signs that they are ready to reopen the government. Schumer led the majority of his caucus in rejecting for the 11th time on Monday a bipartisan spending bill aimed at temporarily funding the government.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) answer questions during a press conference on the tenth day of the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol October 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)
Republicans have said throughout the three-week shutdown that they would not negotiate with Democrats on their partisan policy demands until government funding was restored.
Thune called Schumer’s tough tactics a “hostage-taking” exercise and argued that Democrats are more interested in scoring political points with their base rather than ending the funding shortfall.
“We even offered to give them a vote on a health care proposal of their own design if they vote to reopen the government,” Thune said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “The answer was again no.”
“I don’t know what the Democrats are looking for,” Thune continued. “But if they want the Republicans to give in to their hostage situation, they should think twice.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed frustration Tuesday that Democrats have not clarified their demands to reopen the government.
SPEAKER JOHNSON: “Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer himself cannot express to you what they are demanding. They don’t even know it.”
🎥: @AndiNapier pic.twitter.com/39X6k7tMUO
– Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 21, 2025
“The president has nothing to offer them,” Mr. Johnson told reporters Tuesday. “There are literally no issues on the table. Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer himself cannot articulate what they are demanding. They don’t even know it among all Democrats.”
“They are once again asking for a solution to a year-end issue that wasn’t even on the table yet and they know it will take a long time to reach consensus. This is a political game and real people are being hurt and we are frustrated.”
A Democratic lawmaker broke with his party Tuesday after several of his colleagues suggested that Republicans couldn’t be trusted to secure a vote on subsidies.
“I believe John Thune is an honorable man, and I don’t think this looks like a scam that’s coming,” Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman told the DCNF. “Our government should be open, and then we can figure out all these other things. »
Andi Shae Napier and Caden Olson contributed to this report.
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