WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTRF) — Sunday marks day 33 of the federal government shutdown, with Congress still deadlocked over a new funding bill.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito addressed the ongoing impasse, saying there has been some movement in bipartisan discussions and that lawmakers are working quickly to secure a vote to reopen the government, restore SNAP benefits, and pay federal employees.
“It’s a road to nowhere. It’s actually more miserable now than I can ever remember it in terms of the impacts on individuals, on people who work for the government, on people who rely on services from the government. It is a total disservice to them,”
— Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R–West Virginia)
Capito said she is co-sponsoring Sen. Josh Hawley’s bill from Missouri, which would fund only SNAP benefits.
“[Senator] Josh Hawley from Missouri has a bill that would solely fund SNAP benefits. Doesn’t fund any other aspects. So, there’s an issue of picking winners and losers here, but I am a co-sponsor of that bill,” Capito said.
The senator explained that Republicans need at least five Democratic votes to meet the Senate’s 60-vote threshold required to break the filibuster and pass the bill to reopen the government.
Meanwhile, President Trump urged Senate Republicans on Truth Social to eliminate the filibuster so the shutdown could end without Democratic support.
It remains unclear whether Senate Republicans will take that step.
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