Special Session Discussions Continue
Last week Gov. Tim Walz, along with DFL House Leader Rep. Zack Stephenson (DFL-Coon Rapids) and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul) unveiled a 10-point proposal to address gun violence and school safety. The proposal included a ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and binary triggers, as well as additional funding for mental health and other school safety measures. In presenting the proposal, Gov. Walz reiterated that he would like to call a special session and have legislators take up the proposal as early as this week.
Republican leadership raised concerns with the process and ongoing negotiations and reiterated the inability of the legislature to pass any proposal without Republican support. Republican’s have also offered alternative proposals they believe would address school safety and gun violence, including investing significant funds toward mental health services.
Walz Chief of Staff Steps Down
With only one year left in Walz’s current term as governor, his long time Chief of Staff, Chris Schmitter, has decided to leave the Governor’s Office. Schmitter was Chief of Staff for seven years, the longest serving in that position in state history. Schmitter is an attorney and a native of Rochester, MN. He will serve through the end of October and then will transition over to the Walz campaign for governor as a senior advisor in a political capacity. Walz named Patrick Tanis, a long-time aide, as his new Chief of Staff.
Senate Outlook
On day six of the federal government shutdown, the Senate is scheduled to vote this evening for the fifth time on advancing the House-passed bill to fund federal agencies through November 21. There are no indications that additional Senate Democrats will support the Republican funding measure. To date, only three have done so—Senator John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), and Senator Angus King (Maine), an Independent who caucuses with Democrats.
Senate Republican leaders continue to believe that enough Democratic senators will eventually cross the aisle to pass the bill, so they are maintaining their strategy of holding successive votes. If Democrats block the measure again, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to set up another vote for Tuesday, with a possible additional vote on Thursday if that fails.
These are cloture votes requiring a 60-vote threshold. With Senator Rand Paul (Kentucky) voting no, eight Senate Democrats would need to vote yes to advance the measure.
Democratic Strategy and Economic Pressure
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shows no signs of backing down. However, several Democratic senators are closely watching how the impacts of the shutdown accumulate, especially as the first missed federal paychecks are expected this Friday, according to the General Services Administration.
President Donald Trump and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought have continued to threaten mass layoffs and the rescission of additional federal funding from Democratic-led states. President Trump told reporters on Sunday that layoffs are “taking place right now,” calling it “the Democrats’ shutdown.”
There is also growing concern over the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program, which could run out of funding as soon as this week, affecting millions of Americans.
If Republicans continue their strategy, Senate Democrats will eventually face a decision about whether extending the enhanced Obamacare premium tax credits is worth prolonging the shutdown. While public polling currently shows Democrats with an advantage in messaging, that dynamic could change quickly as the economic effects deepen.
Some Democrats have suggested that accepting the short-term Republican continuing resolution might allow another opportunity to negotiate in six weeks, though this would undermine the party’s messaging given that Obamacare premium increases are imminent. Senator Schumer has been working the phones throughout the weekend and appeared on Face the Nation to emphasize the need for bipartisan negotiation on healthcare subsidies.
The House
Speaker Johnson has kept the House out of session for a second consecutive week despite the ongoing shutdown. House members have not voted since September 19, meaning most lawmakers have not been in Washington during what is now the sixth-longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
Johnson held a conference call with House Republicans on Saturday, stating he would reconvene the chamber when Senate Democrats relent. Until then, GOP members were advised to remain in their districts and focus on local events blaming Democrats for the stalemate. Johnson has indicated he will give members 48 hours’ notice before any votes are held. A House pro forma session is scheduled for today.
This decision reflects two strategic objectives: first, to keep the focus on Senate Democrats as the source of the stalemate; and second, to prevent rank-and-file Republicans from making public comments that could undermine leadership’s unified message.
Larkin Hoffman Public Affairs continues to monitor developments closely and will keep you apprised as the situation unfolds.
