Congressional Democrats are marching in lockstep into the fourth week of a government shutdown, even as lawmakers brace for what could be the most painful point yet — a cutoff in federal food aid for more than 40 million people.
But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries are signaling that there will be no change in strategy: Democrats won’t provide the votes to reopen the government unless their demands over health care are met. And they’re increasingly hammering President Donald Trump for his failure to sit down to negotiate with Democrats, while instead embarking on his second foreign trip so far during the shutdown.
“This is all Trump,” a visibly frustrated Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont told CNN. “Trump’s not engaged. Republicans won’t negotiate,” Welch said, arguing that Trump’s trip to Asia this week as “an indication of how he could care less.”
Federal elections here are on a set schedule, there’s no concept of a “snap” election here. The closest thing is if a Congressional seat goes vacant, they need to schedule a special election just for that seat before it can be filled.
In theory, we prevent kings here by allocating distinct powers to distinct branches of government. The problem occurs when those branches stop using the oversight powers the Constitution gives them. The American President can rule like a king – if Congress and the Courts let him.