Bipartisan negotiations are the 'obvious way out' of the shutdown, says Sen. Dick Durbin

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

Updated October 9, 2025 5:30 PM ET


As the government shutdown stretches into its ninth day, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is urging House Republicans to return to Washington and negotiate, warning that millions of Americans could soon see their health care premiums double if Congress fails to act.

"There certainly is [a way out], and it's an obvious way out," Durbin told Morning Edition. "Have both sides sit down at the table immediately and find ways to deal with the challenge that faces us. Millions of American families are going to see their health care costs double if Congress doesn't act immediately."

The Senate on Thursday rejected competing bills to fund the government for a seventh time, voting 54-45. At the center of the standoff is a partisan dispute over whether, and how soon, Congress should extend subsidies for Affordable Care Act marketplaces. About 24 million Americans who don't have job-based or public insurance, such as Medicaid, rely on those marketplaces to buy coverage.

Republicans, who control Congress, say Democrats are blocking their funding plan under pressure from their base. They argue that no deal on health care can happen until the government reopens. Democrats acknowledge they have limited leverage but say that if the Affordable Care Act's tax credits are not extended, health care costs will soar. Durbin, who is set to retire in two years, said the impact of inaction will soon be felt in his home state.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/09/nx-s1-5566043/dick-durbin-government-shutdown-negotiations

[no_hypocrisy]

1. A message to House and Senate Republicans:

1. Take the qualification and move on.

2. Unless you either get a 60-vote majority in the Senate or eliminate the filibuster, this is the way it's going to be indefinitely.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. Mike Johnson and House GOPers are getting some major pushback

from their own.

It's a bad look when the House is not in session by Johnson's order while still getting paid - and ONLY because they don't want to be forced to vote on the legislation for the Epstein file release demanded in that Epstein discharge petition (which is why the putzing around with swearing in Grijalva because once she is sworn in, she'll sign it and off it goes).

You have the double-whammy from the CT-embroiled MAGats lead by people like MTG, who want that vote on the Epstein files and who are stoking some of that discord.

[C Moon]

2. Unless we give up everything, the shutdown will continue.

MAGA is all about destroying the USA.
We’ll have to hold on, and win in the midterms.