Vidostream | News, sport and opinion from the Vidostream's US Edition

https://vidostream.com

Senate again fails to pass bills aimed at funding government as blame game continues

Congressional leaders continue to blame the opposing party for the shutdown.

 

The Senate on Wednesday -- the first day of a government shutdown -- failed to pass bills aimed at funding the government as congressional leaders continue to blame the opposing party for the shutdown.

The Senate held two votes on funding bills that mirrored the failed votes they took on Tuesday, resulting in a government shutdown that took effect at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

 

 
A closed sign stands in front of the National Archives on the first day of a government shutdown, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
A closed sign stands in front of the National Archives on the first day of a government shutdown, Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP
 
 

The first was, once again, a procedural vote on the Democrats' government funding proposal that includes the health care provisions they've been seeking. It failed by a vote of 47-53. Once again, every Democrat voted for it and every Republican voted against it. 

The second vote in the series was a procedural vote on the clean, House-backed Republican stop-gap funding bill that failed Tuesday night. It failed again Wednesday with a vote of 55-45.

Majority Leader John Thune blamed the Democrats for the shutdown during a press conference Wednesday morning.

"It's not about who wins or who loses or who gets blamed and all this. It's about the American people,” Thune said. “They have taken the American people hostage in a way that they think benefits them politically, at the consequence of the cost of what's going to happen to the American families if this government shutdown continues."

 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during a news conference with Republican Congressional leadership outside the US Capitol on the first day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 1, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during a news conference with Republican Congressional leadership outside the US Capitol on the first day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 1, 2025. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
 
 

Thune said that Republicans are now on the hunt for those few additional Democrats to support their clean, short term funding bill.

"There are others out there, I think who don't want to shut down the government, but who are being put in a position by their leadership that should make them, ought to make all of them very uncomfortable," Thune said after Tuesday night's failed votes. "So we'll see."

Democratic Sens. John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto and Angus King (an independent who caucuses with Democrats) bucked their party leader Tuesday night and voted with Republicans on a short-term funding bill aimed at keeping the government open for seven more weeks.

Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Democrats during the Wednesday morning press conference.

 

 
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks at a news conference with Republican Congressional leadership outside the US Capitol on the first day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 1, 2025. Nathan Howard/Reuters
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks at a news conference with Republican Congressional leadership outside the US Capitol on the first day of the US government shutdown in Washington, October 1, 2025. Nathan Howard/Reuters
 
 

"Every single bit of this was entirely avoidable,” Johnson said, adding that Democrats should pass the clean CR as they did in the House.

"Democrats in Congress have dragged our country into another reckless shutdown to satisfy their far-left base,” Johnson said. "Whether or not the government remains open or reopens is entirely up to them."

On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged Republicans to come to the negotiating table.

 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to the members of the media during a press conference, following Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to the members of the media during a press conference, following Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch on Capitol Hill in Washington, September 30, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
 

 

“So, we want to sit down and negotiate, but the Republicans can't do it in their partisan way, where they just say 'It's our way or the highway,'” Schumer reiterated at a news conference following Senate votes Tuesday night. 

Schumer rehashed the failed votes on the Senate floor -- placing the blame on Republicans who “have failed to get enough votes to avoid a shutdown.” 

The Senate is expected to take votes on other matters in the afternoon, around 2 p.m., and then they're expected to depart for Yom Kippur. The Senate will likely be out on Thursday, but return on Friday and into the weekend as negotiations continue.

ABC News' Lauren Peller and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.

Source: ABC GMA

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.
You did not use the site, Click here to remain logged. Timeout: 60 second