Washington Examiner Chief Political Correspondent Byron York argued that some Republicans have lost the “message discipline” during the government shutdown by negotiating on the side with Democrats over the Obamacare subsidies.
The government shut down on Oct. 1, after Congress failed to pass a stopgap bill that would keep the government funded. Since the shutdown began, lawmakers have been deadlocked over Democrats’ demands to extend the expiring Obamacare subsidies.
“Some Republicans are actually on the side negotiating with them about the policy matters, about the premiums, and the policies, when in fact the position should be ‘no, we’ll talk about that after you open the government. You’re not going to be rewarded for shutting the government down,’” York said on Fox News.
“I think some Republicans have lost that clear focus,” York added.
York said that Republicans had a “good start” with messaging to the American people about the government shutdown and who is to blame for it.
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York highlighted that in previous government shutdowns, when Republicans would ask for some policy change to be made to keep the government open, Democrats wouldn’t allow negotiations over it until Republicans reopened the government.
“That was a very popular position with the population, it always is,” York said. “The idea is keep the government open, you’re not going to be rewarded for shutting it down.”
York said there will be a point where the shutdown is hurting the political parties and will lead them to negotiations.
“Democrats have not felt any pain [or] the need to make any concessions in this,” York said on Fox News. “Now the next landmark is perhaps on Wednesday when the military is supposed to be paid, will that be enough?”
“At some point, it seems like there will be a point where the hurt will make the sides negotiate,” York added.
Federal employees, the military, and others, including TSA agents, who have still been working during the shutdown have gone without pay since the shutdown began.
TRUMP DIRECTS HEGSETH TO PAY TROOPS DURING GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
President Donald Trump ordered War Secretary Pete Hegseth to issue military paychecks during the shutdown.
The Senate is not expected to vote on another government funding bill until Tuesday of next week.