CatastropheCat
Well-known member
Congressional Gridlock Hinges on Trust, Not Policy
A growing distrust between Democrats and Republicans is hindering efforts to end the government shutdown, with lawmakers from both parties struggling to find common ground.
The impasse is largely driven by a lack of trust, which has been exacerbated by recent rescissions bills signed into law by President Trump. These measures have gutted funding for key Democratic priorities, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and NPR.
"I think once they gutted our priorities out of the bill, it really fundamentally changed our ability to work together," said Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., in a call with MSNBC. "It's a giant middle finger to everything we're trying to do right now."
The distrust has been fueled by years of Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, which many Democrats see as a breach of faith between the two parties.
"The Republicans have spent 15 years trying to repeal and displace people off the Affordable Care Act," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "That's why we can't just shake on a deal to discuss the subsidies – they've made it clear that they're gonna continue to support rescissions, which is a violation of every norm we have here."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also echoed this sentiment, warning that Republicans may not be able to guarantee votes for extending the tax credits.
The situation has become increasingly partisan, with Democrats holding firm on their demands for action on the subsidies and Republicans unwilling to make concessions.
"We need to solve the problem," said Schumer. "The first step is a commitment to negotiate."
However, with time running out, lawmakers are facing mounting pressure to find a solution – before the shutdown becomes the longest in American history.
A growing distrust between Democrats and Republicans is hindering efforts to end the government shutdown, with lawmakers from both parties struggling to find common ground.
The impasse is largely driven by a lack of trust, which has been exacerbated by recent rescissions bills signed into law by President Trump. These measures have gutted funding for key Democratic priorities, including the U.S. Agency for International Development and NPR.
"I think once they gutted our priorities out of the bill, it really fundamentally changed our ability to work together," said Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., in a call with MSNBC. "It's a giant middle finger to everything we're trying to do right now."
The distrust has been fueled by years of Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare, which many Democrats see as a breach of faith between the two parties.
"The Republicans have spent 15 years trying to repeal and displace people off the Affordable Care Act," said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. "That's why we can't just shake on a deal to discuss the subsidies – they've made it clear that they're gonna continue to support rescissions, which is a violation of every norm we have here."
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also echoed this sentiment, warning that Republicans may not be able to guarantee votes for extending the tax credits.
The situation has become increasingly partisan, with Democrats holding firm on their demands for action on the subsidies and Republicans unwilling to make concessions.
"We need to solve the problem," said Schumer. "The first step is a commitment to negotiate."
However, with time running out, lawmakers are facing mounting pressure to find a solution – before the shutdown becomes the longest in American history.
. I mean, can't they just put aside their differences and work together? It's like they're too busy playing politics to even talk about finding solutions 
. And it's not just about the subsidies, it's about the trust between parties. I get that Republicans have been trying to repeal Obamacare for years, but come on 
. That's just creating more divisions.
. I wish they could put their heads together and find some common ground. This is not what America needs right now 
.
. But seriously, can't we all just calm down and try to find a solution that works for everyone? 
. Like, come on guys, can't we all just get along? School-wise, we've learned about the importance of compromise and working together towards a common goal 
. But I guess in real life, it's not that simple 
. The Republicans are being super stubborn, refusing to budge on their stance on subsidies for Obamacare, which is affecting millions of people 
. It's really disheartening to see. Can't they just put aside their differences and find a way forward? 
democrats are all about affordable care act whereas republicans wanna repeal it 
john thune is like "we cant guarantee votes for tax credits" ummm ok so what's the plan now 
. democrats need to hold firm on their demands for subsidies and republicans gotta be willing to negotiate... it's not rocket science, guys! 
. I mean, don't get me wrong, I get why they're fighting over these subsidies - it's a big deal for some people 
. But come on, guys! Can't you just try to find some common ground? 
.
!
? It's not like they're going to make things easier or anything... and now we're stuck with a shutdown that could be the longest ever 
. I mean, come on, 15 years of trying to repeal Obamacare? That's some serious 'trust' issues 
...can't we just have a real conversation without the drama? And what's with all these rescissions bills? It feels like they're trying to erase everything that Democrats want to achieve in one swoop 
and I'm still fuming about it 
.
, we need to get back to negotiating 
. It's time for some compromise 
. Can't our reps do better than this? 
it feels like they're more focused on proving a point than actually getting stuff done. I mean, can't we all just get along? 
between the parties. Can't they just put their differences aside and find common ground? Maybe a fresh start would help 
. I mean, I'm all for Democrats' priorities, but at the same time, Republicans are like, "Hey, we're not gonna budge" 
It's not that hard, right? Like, have they even tried mediation or something? 
. That would be a total disaster 
!