US: Thune Eyes New Shutdown Strategy To Ramp Up Pressure On Democrats

At 12:15 ET 17:15 BST, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) will jam Democrats with a bill introduced by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) to pay troops and some federal workers during the government shutdown. Democrats are expected to block the bill, believing it gives President Donald Trump and OMB Director Russ Vought too much authority over federal worker pay. 

• Thune has also prepped a vote, likely to take place next week, on legislation from Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) that would pay TSA employees and air traffic controllers. And there is another pending troop pay bill, introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Thune’s strategy is to put Democrats on the record voting against both reopening the government via a CR and paying troops via supplemental funding.
• Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Gary Peters (D-MI) will host a bipartisan lunch at 12:30 ET 17:30 BST today, providing a rare opportunity for rank-and-file senators to discuss a bipartisan solution.
• Democrats believe the shutdown can only be resolved if Trump inserts himself into negotiations, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) gambling that Trump sees a political imperative in striking a deal on Obamacare subsidies.
• Trump told reporters yesterday he would not speak with Democrats until they vote to reopen the government, the official party line from Congressional GOP leadership. 
• According to Polymarket, there is a roughly 40% implied probability that the shutdown will extend to November 16. The next key date is November 1, when SNAP funding dries up and open enrollment begins for health-care plans.