Senate faces fourth vote on GOP funding bill as shutdown standoff deepens

The Senate is once again voting on a Republican-backed funding bill — the same legislation that has already failed three times.

(CNN)- The Senate is once again voting on a Republican-backed funding bill — the same legislation that has already failed three times. Democrats are expected to block it again, continuing a stalemate that has stretched the government shutdown into another week.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the GOP approach, saying, “We haven’t wanted to negotiate. We want to keep the government open.” But Democrats argue they are ready to deal, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries insisting, “We are ready, we are willing, we are able to sit down with anyone anytime, any place.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he is considering talks with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer but pledged that if today’s vote fails, he will hold another one Monday — on the same bill. Thune urged Democrats to “pass a clean, nonpartisan bill to fund the government for a few more weeks so we can get back to bipartisan appropriations work.”

Democrats, however, say they want changes, emphasizing that their top priority is preventing health insurance premiums from rising for Americans covered under Obamacare. “Enact a spending agreement that actually meets the needs of the American people while at the same time addressing the Republican healthcare crisis,” Jeffries said.

Adding to the pressure, the White House signaled President Donald Trump plans to fire thousands of federal workers during the shutdown, a move officials said could begin as soon as this weekend. Leavitt said the administration would target agencies “that don’t align with the administration’s values that we feel are a waste of the taxpayer dollar.”

The political showdown shows no signs of ending soon, with both sides dug in as federal employees and families brace for further uncertainty.