On Day 43 Of The Federal Shutdown, Democrats Vow To Block The Senate’s Reopening Bill, While Republicans Prepare To Pass It With Only Two Votes To Spare

Wednesday, November 12, 2025, 3:45 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges, Political Editor: Englebrook Independent News,

WASHINGTON, DC.- Tonight, between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., the United States House of Representatives is expected to take up the bill already approved by the United States Senate to reopen the government, ending what has become the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history. The measure, which Republicans support as a clean funding-resolution mechanism, could pass so long as the GOP column loses no more than two votes.

     However, key House Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), are publicly vowing to reject the Senate’s version of the Clean Continuing Resolution, thereby perpetuating the shutdown. In effect, the Democrats are choosing to continue halting government operations rather than allow the measure to pass.

     From the Republican perspective, the blame is clear: Democrats have held firm in opposing the bill despite mounting disruptions to federal operations and to the American people.

Shutdown Fallout;

     The shutdown began on October 1, 2025, when Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution for the 2026 fiscal year. Federal workers remain furloughed or working without pay, and vital services have been severely disrupted. The ripple effects are widespread: air travel across the country has been hit by cascading delays and cancellations as federal aviation and transportation agencies scale back operations.

     SNAP benefits and other assistance programs have been delayed or cut, leaving vulnerable Americans scrambling to make ends meet. For veterans relying on VA services, the backlog of appointments and benefits has grown worse with each passing week. The toll has been steep, and the public’s patience is thin.

Political Blame Game;

     Republicans argue that the shutdown is fundamentally the result of Democratic intransigence, and they say that the measure now before the House is the only timely escape. After the Senate passed the bill 60-40 with support from nearly all Republicans and eight Democrats, the ball landed in the House. Yet rather than stepping in to end the hiatus, House Democrats are reportedly preparing to vote it down, even as federal operations grind to a halt.

     Democrats appear to prefer prolonging the shutdown in order to leverage additional policy demands and punish Republicans rather than act in the public interest. Such a posture suggests a party more focused on its own narrative and political optics than on reopening government for the American people. One GOP spokesperson said the White House remains “very hopeful” the shutdown will end tonight.

Will The Vote Be Delayed Again;

     One wild card remains: the possibility of another marathon floor speech from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). Jeffries previously used the so-called “magic minute” to delay the floor vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in June 2025, delivering an 8-hour and 32-minute speech that stalled proceedings well into the night.

     Democrats are expected to deploy a similar tactic again, buying time, stalling the vote, and dragging out the shutdown showdown. Such delay strategies have become symbolic of a party more interested in performance than progress.

Stakes And Optics;

     While Republicans have signaled confidence in the final tally, the outcome remains precarious: only two defections could graze the GOP’s margin and imperil the deal. With House Republicans eager to end the shutdown, the pressure now turns to a handful of swing votes and whether Democrats will relent or double down.

     To millions of Americans, federal workers without paychecks, veterans awaiting services, travelers facing canceled flights, the message is blunt: at this point, the shutdown isn’t about negotiations or good-faith bargaining. It is about partisan posturing. The American people are suffering while Democrats cling to ideological battles and political revenge.

     As Republican critics put it, Democrats haven’t produced a policy solution; they’ve produced paralysis, uncertainty, and damage. They’ve inflicted a shutdown and achieved nothing but harm. Tonight’s vote will determine whether Congress can step off the brink or whether Democrats will keep the government hostage for their own ends.

Final Thought;

     The House vote tonight is more than just a procedural step. It is a referendum on which party is willing to govern. If House Democrats vote the bill down, it will stand as a clear message: priorities come first, government service comes second. And Americans will continue to pay the price.

Editor’s Note — Jennifer Hodges;

Reporting compiled from the U.S. Senate Clerk’s Office, Congressional Record archives, and official statements from House leadership and White House press briefings dated November 11–12, 2025. Additional verification through CBS News, Reuters, and Federal News Network. Attribution: CBS News, Reuters, Federal News Network, and Congressional Records.

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