Shutdown Looms as Senate Democrats Refuse to Back Down Over Miners' Benefits

Senate Democrats are threatening a short-lived government shutdown this weekend, indicating Thursday night they would not go along with a stopgap measure that would keep agencies open past Friday.

The House on Thursday easily approved the continuing resolution to fund government through April 28, but several senators, led by Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., objected to the short-term nature of the extension of health care benefits for 16,000 coal miners. The CR would provide the benefits through the duration of the funding bill, but Manchin and his Democratic allies have insisted on a longer-term solution.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., filed cloture on the spending bill on Thursday. Per Senate rules, the earliest the chamber can cast the first of two votes on the bill would be around 1 a.m. Saturday morning, one hour after current appropriations expire. Final passage would then occur on Sunday.

Moving up the schedule to vote on Friday and avoid a brief shutdown would require unanimous consent from all senators, but several Democrats held a press conference Thursday evening to say they had no intention of backing down. Manchin claimed his strategy would not require a funding lapse.

“The government is not going to shut down,” he said. “It doesn’t need to shutdown. This is such a simple lift.”

Republicans, however, have noted it is too late for any two-or-three day measure to stave off the shuttering of agencies, as the House wrapped up its business Thursday and many lawmakers have already headed home for the holidays.

Soon-to-be Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., joined Democrats at their press conference. Manchin said he had strong support in the caucus for his cause.