Democratic Senator: No Progress Yet in Government Shutdown Stalemate

BlockBeats News, October 5, Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona stated that lawmakers are still not close to reaching an agreement to reopen the government. Gallego has been involved in some informal bipartisan discussions, which have taken place against the backdrop of Congress repeatedly failing to pass government funding votes.

He made it clear that Democrats are firm in their demands regarding healthcare issues and hope that Republicans will take substantive action before November. He said, "We know that Senate Republicans also want to reach an agreement."

He added, "Republican lawmakers understand that if Congress does not extend the subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, millions of Americans will receive notices of increased health insurance premiums at the beginning of next month, and the consequences cannot be ignored."