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AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman in New York, joined by Democracy Now!’s Juan González in Chicago. Hi, Juan.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: Hi, Amy, and welcome to all of our listeners and viewers across the country and around the world.
AMY GOODMAN: The longest government shutdown in U.S. history has entered its 42nd day, but it could soon end after seven Democratic senators and one Independent joined Republicans to pass a short-term government funding bill that now goes to the House. The measure was passed by a 60-40 vote in the Senate. The bill does not include an extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which had been a key demand for Democratic lawmakers. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has agreed to a separate vote on extending the subsidies.
Joining Republicans to approve the funding bill were Democrats Tim Kaine of Virginia, Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and Dick Durbin of Illinois, as well as Maine’s Independent senator, Angus King.
Some Democratic lawmakers and progressive groups are now calling for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to resign his position as minority leader. While Schumer voted against the bill, he’s facing mounting criticism.
Democratic Congressman Ro Kanna said, quote, “Senator Schumer’s no longer effective and should be replaced. If you can’t lead the fight to stop healthcare premiums from skyrocketing for Americans, what will you fight for?” Kanna asked.
Meanwhile, Congressmember Delia Ramirez said, quote, “Eight Democrats caving to empty promises is an indefensible leadership failure. For the sake of our country, Schumer needs to resign,” the Chicago congressmember said.
We’re joined now by David Dayen, Executive Editor of The American Prospect. Can you talk, David, about what exactly the senators who have agreed to avoiding getting rid of a filibuster – getting rid of the filibuster by getting that 60-40 vote, what they’ve agreed to, and what they haven’t agreed to, and what happens next?
DAVID DAYEN: Well, they didn’t agree to too much. They get this promised vote on extending the ACA subsidies, but there was actually a vote on that yesterday as an amendment to the bill, and all the Democrats voted for it, and all the Republicans voted against it. And there’s no reason to believe that that won’t happen again during this promised vote down the road.
There is three of the 12 appropriations bills that were negotiated in a bipartisan fashion. They will pass for a full year in this bill, along with a continuing resolution to fund the other programs of the government through January 30, and there is a prohibition on the administration firing federal employees. And to me, that shows that the Democrats had the ability and the knowledge to stop the power grab by the Trump administration,