The House and Senate have both left town for the weekend, meaning that at a minimum, the government shutdown will extend into next week. Thus, we could soon see a new record for longest government shutdown.
Pressure points start to increase on Nov. 1 as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, runs out of money over the weekend. Millions of Americans get the food they and their children need through this program. There have been discussions of using emergency funds to keep food aid flowing, but the Trump administration has said there are no such funds available.
There has reportedly been some discussion among a bipartisan group of senators to try and find an exit strategy to the shutdown. However, no clear consensus has emerged.
The President muddied the waters Friday morning by calling on Senate Republicans to abandon the filibuster and pass the “clean CR.” From my days as a Senate aide, I know the important role that the filibuster rule plays for both parties. In my view, it is unlikely to be changed.
Airport delays are growing as more flight controllers call in sick after weeks of working without pay. Perhaps even senators are sitting in airports waiting for their flights. While the administration appears to have found money for the next round of military paychecks, other federal employees deemed essential are working with no pay.
As pressure builds, and hardships spread, maybe DC will find a way out of the mess they created.
Trump/Xi
Returning from his Asian trip and meeting with Chinese President Xi, President Trump declared that the U.S./China meeting, rated on a scale of 1 to 10, was a 12. Rare earth materials will again come to the U.S., and soybeans will be purchased by China. Tariffs have been reduced, and there appears to at least be a lull in the trade war between the two global economic superpowers.
