Senate to remain in session until shutdown deal is struck, Thune says

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters on Saturday that senators will remain in session until a deal is unlocked to reopen the government as the shutdown reached Day 39 with members still far from an agreement. 

When asked if lawmakers will stay in town until a deal is reached, Thune responded in the affirmative. The upper chamber was scheduled to be out of Washington for recess around Veterans Day, but will instead be in session. 

Thune spoke as the Senate convened for a rare Saturday session after the path toward a deal took multiple turns on Friday.

Democrats on Friday proposed a one-year extension of the enhanced health care subsidies that are set to expire at the end of December alongside a clean continuing resolution and a three-bill package of full-year spending bills, known as a “minibus.” 

Republicans swiftly shot down that offer, with a bipartisan group of lawmakers continuing discussions overnight. Thune said that the immediate goal is to get text of the minibus nailed down and released, with a hope of voting on that some time this weekend.

Thune added that bipartisan talks that took place overnight have been “positive.” 

“The question is whether we can have everything ready to go,” Thune said, noting that he’s been in discussions with appropriators about minibus text. “We’re getting close to having it ready. Ideally, it’d be great to set it up so we could vote today, but we have to … have the votes to actually pass it.” 

“I don't have anything for you in terms of a definitive time frame except to say that text has to get out and then we’ve got to hope we have the necessary votes,” he added. 

The GOP leader also declined to say when the proposed short-term continuing resolution will run through. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) told reporters that consensus has emerged in the conference around a Jan. 30 end-date. 

Prior to the Democratic push toward a deal featuring a one-year tax credit extension, negotiators were discussing the contours of a deal centered around a new continuing resolution, an attached minibus and a vote on a bill to extend the tax credits. Thune has been adamant that he can guarantee Democrats a “process,” but not an “outcome” that involves passing a tax credit extension.