Sen. Whitehouse defends Democrats on shutdown as Senate rejects sixth attempt to reopen government

Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on Wednesday afternoon defended his party against criticism regarding the federal shutdown as the upper chamber voted against reopening the government.

The Senate failed to advance competing continuing resolutions for the sixth time that would temporarily restore federal funding, with the House-passed resolution failing in a 54-45 split that was primarily along party lines.

Whitehouse claimed that the messaging for keeping the government closed has been good for Democrats so far because Republicans supposedly look worse by House Speaker Mike Johnson keeping the House out of Washington, D.C.

“I think [for] Democrats, it’s so far, so good,” Whitehouse said in an interview on MSNBC. “I think the two big flags flying out there, one is that the Republican Speaker won’t even bring the House back to face the [Jeffrey] Epstein vote. So they’ve just skedaddled while this shutdown goes on." 

The other flag he mentioned is that more Republicans appear to be aligning with Democrats about extending Affordable Care Act tax credits beyond December that could keep healthcare costs from rising. 

“Republican after Republican after Republican after Republican is saying, ‘Democrats are right, we should extend the Affordable Care credits,'” Whitehouse said. “So, OK, if we’re right, sit down, let’s negotiate that and put this [shutdown] behind us.”

Republicans have offered to negotiate on extending the tax credits, but only if the government is reopened first. Democrats are hoping an extension on the credits will be permanent, but some Republicans have floated a one-year extension.

“I know this story’s getting old. You’re trying to find new angles, but it’s the same [thing] — 
the conversation will happen when we open up the government,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters. “Nothing’s changed.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.