Hopes fade for quick end to shutdown as Trump readies layoffs, cuts

"Senators were headed back to the Capitol for another vote on government funding on the third day of the shutdown, but there has been no sign of any real progress toward ending their standoff. Democrats are demanding that Congress extend health care benefits, while Republicans are trying to wear them down with day after day of voting on a House-passed bill that would reopen the government temporarily, mostly at current spending levels."

"Although Republicans control the White House and both chambers of Congress, the Senate's filibuster rules make it necessary for the government funding legislation to gain support from at least 60 of the 100 senators. That's given Democrats a rare opportunity to use their 47 Senate seats to hold out in exchange for policy concessions. The party has chosen to rally on the issue of health care, believing it could be key to their path back to power in Washington."

"Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said, "Understand this, over the last few days and over the next few days, what you're going to see is more than 20 million Americans experience dramatically increased health care premiums, co-pays and deductibles because of the Republican unwillingness to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.""

Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked in a government shutdown as President Donald Trump prepares federal layoffs and budget cuts. Senators returned for another funding vote on the third day of the shutdown with no sign of progress. Democrats insist on extending pandemic-boosted ACA marketplace tax credits and other health care benefits, while Republicans repeatedly push a House-passed short-term funding bill at roughly current spending to wear them down. Senate filibuster rules require 60 votes, giving Democrats leverage with 47 senators. Democrats warn more than 20 million Americans could face sharply higher premiums, co-pays and deductibles without the tax-credit extension.

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles