Democratic support for a potential deal to reopen the government has crumbled because of deep mistrust among Senate Democrats over whether President Trump will act in good faith to extend health insurance subsidies or to stop firing federal workers.
Senate Democrats rejected an emerging proposal Thursday to reopen the government that would have linked a stopgap funding bill known as a continuing resolution to three full-year appropriations bills funding military construction, veterans’ affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the legislative branch.
Democratic senators discussed the proposal at lunch and concluded it did not include strong enough assurances that Trump and the Republican-controlled House would renew enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act that are due to expire in January.
“You got a bunch of keys, and you’re trying to find the right key to fit a lock. We just have to have another key,” said a Democratic senator who attended the meeting.