As Democrats prepare for a possible federal shutdown, their endgame is uncertain

Washington – The Democrats of the Senate who had trouble for months to counter President Donald Trump contented themselves with a daring strategy in a stage if they do not obtain major concessions on health care before the government’s financing was exhausted on Wednesday: to vote to close the government.

The plan is warmly approved by many frustrated voters of the base and party activists, some of whom called the Democratic leader of the Senate Chuck Schumer of New York to resign in March after having provided support to the Republicans to keep the government open at the time.

“America’s ability to bear this moment requires a democratic party which leads to dynamic, impactful and public resistance,” wrote Katie Bethell, executive director of the Liberal Basic Moveon group, in a letter to party leaders.

It is less clear in the gaming book of the minority party after 12:01 Wednesday Hae, when the closure begins and the administration could start to dismiss hundreds, even thousands of federal workers, if it takes place with plans set out by the White House this week.

How does it all end? And what do the Democrats do then?

In public, Democrats say they believe that Trump and the Republicans will blame if there is a closure and that they would ultimately be forced to negotiate a compromise. It is a risky bet.

The Republicans hold the majority of both the Chamber and the Senate and have shown no sign of restraint, because the Democrats insist on an immediate extension of the benefits of health care that expires at the end of the year, among other requests.

Democrats also adopted a somewhat resigned vision of the choice to come.

The country “will get worse with or without” a closure, said Schumer this month. “Because Trump is lawless.” It is an end of an uncertain part and a subject for the Democrats who, in the past, have been intended for closings that have been caused by the Republicans.

A prolonged closure with mass fire of federal workers would be a major escalation in the annual spending battles between the two parties. The threat of government closure – and potential political ramifications – has generally frightened both sides to bring everyone to the negotiating table, possibly.

“Government funding is a democratic capital, at least that has always been,” said the head of the majority of the Senate, John Thune, Rs.d., who refused to negotiate with the Democrats unless they help adopt the seven -week extension of government funding that cleaned the Chamber. “And here they realize this cliff.”

The most recent closure – the longest in the country – took place in the winter of 2018-2019, when Trump insisted on federal dollars to build the American -mexic border wall during his first mandate. It ended when he fell after 35 days.

Schumer says things have changed since his March vote to help finance the government during the summer.

The Republicans adopted a massive tax bill which reduced Medicaid spending, and Trump repeatedly blocked the federal expenses that have been previously approved by the Congress. The Democrats say that the Republicans did not contain negotiation, and they criticized Trump for canceling a meeting of the White House with Schumer and the Democratic leader of the Hakeem Jeffries Chamber of New York.

It seems that the president may have reversed the course because he now plans to meet Schumer, Jeffries, Thune and the president of the Mike Johnson room on Monday.

“This president is right – he is not up to the president if he cannot sit and negotiate with the two Democratic leaders,” said Schumer during the “Hour News” of PBS this week.

Jeffries said on Friday that the Democrats “would not go to get along”.

Johnson “has my number. John Thune has my number,” he said. “The White House knows how to reach out.”

Most of the Senate Democrats gathered to threaten a closure, but it is possible that some in the Caucus will vote to keep the government open or try to conclude an agreement on the arrival of the deadline.

Senator John Fetterman, D-P., Voted with the Republicans during a test vote, and nine other Democrats voted with Schumer and the Republicans on the resolution of March. Republicans would need at least six additional democrats, potentially more, to reach the 60 votes necessary for adoption.

Schumer has a lot to lose in both cases, after having taken a political blow from the liberal groups and many voters, in the spring.

A wave of anxiety and frustration has simmered for months among the democratic base, motivated by the grip of tightening of the Republicans on Washington and an increasing perception that the Democratic Party is too weak to retaliate. Now, with imminent federal closures, many activists and legislators see a rare lever point and a chance to redesign the party image with voters.

“It would be naive to suggest that all the confidence that democratic elected officials have lost and wasted with their basic voters can be found in a moment or a fight,” said Joel Payne, communications manager for Moveon. “But I think it will really go to really start to reverse this relationship.”

The Sydney register of the progressive change campaign committee said Democrats could not afford to restart even if this means that the administration performs federal mass dismissals.

Register said that voting with Republicans was like giving “the school court to intimidate their money for lunch”.

“I want to see them keep their money for lunch, because the whole intimidator will do is trying to continue flying,” she said.

Senator Cory Booker, DN.J., has made a similar analogy on Trump and democratic efforts to extend the enlarged health care subsidies, which expire on January 1. Some Republicans support the extension, but Trump and GOP leaders said it was a fight for later in the year. Democrats say that the moment of action is now.

“I’m not afraid to (Trump), I’m not afraid of his threats, and I know it will be a difficult fight and a ugly fight,” said Booker this month. “But it’s a fight worth having, and that’s where I stand.”

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The editors of the Associated Press Bill Barrow in Atlanta and Joey Cappelletti and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed to this report.