Senate frustrations rise as shutdown starts feeling like ‘Groundhog Day’

The government shutdown is turning into “Groundhog Day” for senators as they grow increasingly frustrated with the lack of movement toward a deal and repeated failed votes.

The Senate voted Monday on the GOP’s “clean” stopgap funding bill and on a Democratic alternative, with both again failing to advance. Absent a substantial change in posture on either side, the upper chamber is expected to vote on the same continuing resolutions (CRs) on Tuesday and Thursday.

Adding to the monotony and deepening the stalemate, the repeated votes are taking place even as no high-level negotiations are taking place and talks among rank-and-file lawmakers appear to have petered out.

“It’s unfortunate. I wish we were making more progress,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), who was part of informal talks with Democrats in recent days that have made little headway. “It takes our Democrat colleagues to actually want to get in the middle of it too.” 

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