It’s an ironic day to celebrate the “spirit of bipartisanship” in the Senate, but 23 days into a government shutdown, that’s exactly what both parties sat down to do. When Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) decided to host a special chamber-wide lunch (complete with fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and blueberry crumble), no one could’ve dreamed that the two sides would be hunkered down on opposite sides of a funding war with no signs of budging. But at least for a couple of hours on Thursday, Democrats and Republicans broke bread — even if they couldn’t break through their differences.

Humble pie obviously wasn’t on the menu, as leaders retreated from the delicious spread to their separate corners, voting down bills that would’ve broken the logjam — or at least made the ordeal easier on cash-strapped staffers, who are working around the clock (thanks in large part to grandstanding filibusters) without paychecks. Asked if Democrats could possibly be talked into realistic negotiations, Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t,” he told Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on Wednesday’s “Washington Watch.”

Looking ahead to Thursday’s votes, he worried Democrats would, in fact, shoot down the push to compensate some federal workers. After all, Marshall pointed out, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has already rejected the idea of paying our military. “We have Capitol Police up here,” the senator reminded everyone. “My staff is working without paychecks as well.” And yet, Democrats refuse to even make those exceptions. “I don’t know what their off-ramp looks like right now,” Marshall admitted. “It’s a dire predicament for them right now.”

Marshall’s prediction was right. On Thursday, all but three Democrats — Senators Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) — voted to leave federal workers in a lurch. The outcome surprised even House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who had hoped Congress would “do something that makes sense around here for once.” Instead, Schumer’s party was left scrambling to explain why they thought our troops and other government employees should work for free. “I’m fine to support it,” Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said before, ironically, voting no. “I think we need to pay our military, but I want to define and limit it in a way that provides pay to essential workers who serve our public safety and our national defense.”

Ossoff, meanwhile, a surprising outlier in his party (who also happens to be facing a tough reelection next year), explained his break with Democrats by telling reporters, “Military servicemembers, TSA workers, and air traffic controllers are among those who simply must come to work, and they should be paid for that work.”

For now, Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), whose bill failed to find the magical 60 votes it needed to start signing paychecks for certain workers, stood outside the only thing the chamber can agree on — Paul and Peter’s bipartisan lunch — and insisted, “I’m going to work over the weekend, our staffs, figure out how to take my bill, make it acceptable to Democrats. Hopefully, we can pass it early next week. That’s my game plan. Wish me luck.”

But it’ll take a lot more than luck this time around. And although Democrats are publicly stoic, the optics certainly aren’t helping Schumer’s party. While he’s being showered with praise by the fringe Left for rebuffing Republicans’ attempts to sit down and find a solution, Americans are feeling the squeeze. And instead of seeing Democrats spring into action to help them, they see leadership content to sit back and try to score political points. “Every day gets better for us,” the New Yorker bragged to the press. This, while everyday people work without pay, offices are understaffed, and routine benefits trickle out at half speed. November 1 is rapidly approaching, The Daily Signal’s Elizabeth Mitchell told Perkins on “This Week on Capitol Hill,” “which is when SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] funding will run out.” That’s food for low-income people, moms and kids. Surely, that’s “another thing that’s putting pressure on Democrats,” she underscored.

But if families are hurting, Schumer’s party says, that’s just too bad. Democrats have their upcoming elections to think about. “Shutdowns are terrible, and of course, there will be families that are going to suffer,” House Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) said, while claiming they take that problem “very seriously.” “But it is one of the few leverage times we have,” the number two House Democrat explained to Fox News.

“So there you have it,” Breitbart’s John Nolte wrote. “Even though Republicans have made clear that they are willing to negotiate with Democrats on the health care issue… Even though President Trump has said this is a priority… Democrats refuse to open the government. They are openly admitting here [that] they are willing to make American families suffer just to gain leverage.”

And exactly what leverage have they gained? While Democrats have a slight edge among voters in the blame game, it’s nothing compared to the shellacking Republicans took for turning off the government’s lights in 2018. And Donald Trump’s approval rating has actually climbed as a result. According to Reuters/Ipsos, Trump’s approval is at 42% — up two from a couple of weeks ago.

Speaking of the president, he knows exactly what’s fueling this shutdown: Schumer’s insecurity. “He’s shot,” Trump stressed Wednesday. “This poor guy. I feel sorry for him. I’ve known him for a long time, but I think he’s mentally gone. He’s been beat[en] up by young radical lunatics. And I think that Chuck Schumer is — he’s gonzo. I really do.” Referring to the threats from his extreme flank, the president predicted that the minority leader wouldn’t run again. “It shows that he’s losing in every poll. … I’m just giving you the facts. I think Chuck is probably finished.”

The New Yorker’s colleague, Senator Jon Husted (R-Ohio), can’t help but notice that Schumer’s grip on power is slipping. “I think we all know that Chuck Schumer is feeling the pressure of younger Democrats who think he’s a failure as a leader. And so, he’s trying to prove to his political left base that he can fight back against President Trump,” the Ohioan noticed. “But fighting back against President Trump is at the expense of what’s best for the American people in this case,” he told Perkins on Thursday’s “Washington Watch.” “And I think ultimately, this is a terrible thing for everyone. But it just proves that they’re not interested in being serious about trying to serve the American people.”

“Remember,” Husted paused, “this is a clean CR that we’re asking them to vote for — meaning that there [are] no politics in it, no games. We’re spending at Biden-era levels in these agencies. So why should they be against that? And it would only create funding through November the 21st, at which time we will have to go through this again. So even if you vote for the CR and you get people funded, then do that, and then we’ll keep negotiating about whatever you want.” Until then, Husted said, “Chuck Schumer is going to have to decide that he cares about the American people and not just his own political fortunes.”

In the meantime, senators are headed home without a solution — again. Obviously, it’ll take a lot more prayers like Senate Chaplain Barry Black’s to bring Democrats to the table. “We continue our importunity for the ending of this shutdown,” he prayed, “particularly praying for our Capitol Police and the many others who are serving without monetary compensation. We pray also for those who are not considered essential workers. Lord, reward them all.”

If God needs a shortcut, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said, “I have great news. The clean CR would pay everyone. We just need five more Democrats to support it.”

AUTHOR

Suzanne Bowdey

Suzanne Bowdey serves as editorial director and senior writer at The Washington Stand.

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