Illinois lawmakers divided on solutions to ending federal government shutdown

PEORIA (25News Now) - The federal government shutdown continued into its ninth day on Thursday, and local lawmakers said they’re hoping to reach a negotiation before federal employees begin to feel strained.

The federal government shut down on Oct. 1, and on the ninth day, Congress still had not made progress in reopening. The Republican led Senate rejected motions on Thursday to advance competing bills for the seventh time.

Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Illinois) said Democrats want to have conversations about healthcare spending now, adding $1.5 trillion onto a four-week funding bill. He claimed they aim to provide healthcare to undocumented immigrants.

“They’ve talked about the Obama healthcare premiums that run out at the end of the year. I think that’s a perfect conversation to have on legislation and public policy on what we can do to fix healthcare, but don’t do it while the government is shut down,” LaHood said. “Don’t try to hold us hostage by these unrealistic demands.”

Under federal law, undocumented immigrants are not eligible for federally funded healthcare, including Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

LaHood said he believes Democrats are stalling with conversations about healthcare. He said he thinks they are displeased with President Donald Trump in office.

LaHood said the shutdown and lack of progress are unfair to federal employees who are currently going unpaid.

“During the Biden administration, 13 different times, we voted on similar legislation, a clean opening of the federal government, and Democrats voted for it every time,” LaHood said.

In an online town hall meeting on Wednesday, Rockford Congressman Eric Sorensen said Republicans and Democrats need to come to a bipartisan agreement to help the American People instead of bashing each other.

“Republicans today know that they have to have a bipartisan deal in the Senate, yet they’re not putting forth a continuing resolution that is negotiable,” Sorensen said. “There’s nothing.”

On Oct. 15, many federal employees are expected to be paid, including those in uniform; however, if the shutdown were to last longer, those workers will be missing a paycheck.

Sorensen said it is now on Republicans to come to an agreement. He said using Democrats’ healthcare concerns is “a folly.”

“People are getting screwed,” Sorensen said. “I want to make sure that we’re coming up with solutions so that people aren’t going without.”

Trump has threatened to cut programs if the government is not reopened. Negotiations will continue in Washington, D.C. on Friday.

The Senate needs 60 votes to reopen the government.

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