00:00President Trump says negotiations to reopen the government are ongoing.
00:03We have a negotiation going on right now with the Democrats that could lead to very good things.
00:09We just spoke with senior Democrats on Capitol Hill. They all say that's not true.
00:13As I understand it, he has not been speaking to any Democrats.
00:17So are Congress and the White House doing anything to fulfill their duty?
00:23The federal government is shut down due to a dispute over health care.
00:27As a result, you can see the Capitol Visitor Center is closed.
00:30You cannot go inside for a tour, but many people are still walking around and taking pictures throughout the campus.
00:35It's worth noting that during this shutdown, congressional staff members are still here and they're still working, but they're not getting paid.
00:43Meanwhile, members of Congress who fail to approve the funding bill, they're still getting paid.
00:48Democrats want Obamacare tax credits extended before they expire at the end of the year.
00:53Those tax credits help Americans who get their health insurance through the federal online marketplace pay their premiums.
00:59Democrats also want to repeal the Medicaid cuts Republicans approved in July.
01:04Republicans opposed the ACA tax credit extension because many were originally passed during the pandemic.
01:10They want the program to be scaled back.
01:12Republicans contend that Democrats should vote to fund the government on a temporary basis
01:16and that those types of disagreements can be worked out in an appropriations package that will last for all of fiscal year 2026.
01:23President Trump says they're working to make a deal on health care.
01:26We are speaking with the Democrats and some very good things could happen with respect to health care.
01:32That's the problem with Obamacare.
01:34The subsidies are so much.
01:36It's billions and billions of dollars is being wasted.
01:39And we can have a much better health care than we have right now.
01:43And we're talking to them.
01:44Democrats on Capitol Hill say they don't know what he's talking about.
01:47Nope.
01:49I've checked around and not a single one says they've had a conversation with the president of the United States.
01:54Not one.
01:55Well, the White House has gone radio silent since the Oval Office meeting last Monday.
02:00And neither Leader Schumer or myself have heard a word from the administration.
02:05The only work that appears to be happening are some mid-level negotiations between senators.
02:10But even if they were to come to a deal, it likely wouldn't be written into stone unless the government is funded.
02:16We want to get a fix to this health care problem that is really bad in Virginia that the Republicans created with the reconciliation bill.
02:23And I have some colleagues who are working on that negotiation and a number of Republicans who want to fix it too.
02:28We'll wrap this up by pointing out that members of the Capitol Police Department are still here.
02:33They're still on duty but not getting paid.
02:35Meanwhile, members of Congress who are the ones that failed to approve the funding bill, they're still getting paid.
02:41I'm Ray Bogan for Straight Arrow News.
02:42For more reporting straight from our nation's Capitol, download the SAN app.
02:46We'll see you next time.
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