{"id":2529397,"date":"2026-01-04T05:33:01","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T10:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/key-lawmakers-to-watch-as-congress-faces-another-looming-shutdown\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T05:36:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T10:36:03","slug":"key-lawmakers-to-watch-as-congress-faces-another-looming-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/key-lawmakers-to-watch-as-congress-faces-another-looming-shutdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Key lawmakers to watch as Congress faces another looming shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkey-lawmakers-to-watch-as-congress-faces-another-looming-shutdown%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2529397&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Congress returns from holiday recess facing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sen-patty-murray-confirms-ukraine-and-disaster-aid-spending-bill-in-the-works\/\" title=\"Sen. Patty Murray confirms progress on Ukraine and disaster aid bill.\">looming funding deadline<\/a> at the end of January, with the risk of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nancy-pelosi-blames-president-trump-climate-change-for-migrant-surge\/\" title=\"Nancy Pelosi blames President ..., \u2018... change\u2019 for migrant surge\">partial government shutdown<\/a> if appropriations lapse. Last year&#8217;s 43-day shutdown over enhanced Obamacare subsidies highlights the stakes and the central role senators playing bipartisan broker.on the Republican side, Sens. Katie Britt, Susan Collins, Bernie Moreno, Bill Cassidy (with Mike Crapo), and Lisa Murkowski have been active in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-democrats-reject-gop-plan-to-end-shutdown-a-fifth-time\/\" title=\"... reject GOP plan to ... shutdown a fifth time\">cross-party talks<\/a>; proposals range from a two-year, means-tested extension (Collins\/Moreno) to shifting aid toward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"... Releases List of President ...\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">health savings accounts<\/a> (Cassidy\/Crapo). Key Senate Democrats and one independent involved in breaking the prior shutdown include Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, jacky Rosen, Jeanne Shaheen, Maggie Hassan, tim Kaine, and Angus King. Only four of the 12 appropriations bills have been enacted, raising the prospect of a partial lapse; the House may vote on a clean three-year subsidy extension backed by Democrats and a few centrist Republicans. A slimmer House GOP majority after Marjorie Taylor Greene&#8217;s departure increases the influence of hardline members, while some senators (and Democrats such as Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper) say they will use procedural tools to resist the administration&#8217;s agenda. Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledges partisan posturing but believes some <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >issues remain broadly bipartisan<\/a>; however, recent Trump administration actions on climate and energy could complicate deal-making.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Key lawmakers to watch as Congress faces another looming shutdown deadline<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2450460\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\">Congress <\/a>returns from holiday recess next week and will immediately face its latest <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/government-shutdown\/\">government shutdown<\/a> deadline, when funding is set to lapse starting Jan. 31.<\/p>\n<p>Last year&rsquo;s shutdown, the longest in U.S. history at 43 days over enhanced <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/obamacare\/\">Obamacare subsidies<\/a> that have now expired, offers a window into the key players with significant roles beyond the appropriators clambering to pass a yearlong budget.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4356470\/mod-squad-elaine-luria-hope-spanberger-sherrill-slotkin-successes\/\">&#8216;Mod squad&#8217;: Luria sees hope from Spanberger, Sherrill, and Slotkin&#8217;s successes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/magazine-features\/4362685\/prices-challenge-ahead-trump-republicans-2026\/\">It&rsquo;s the prices, stupid: The big challenge that lies ahead for Trump and the GOP<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4362941\/what-democratic-national-committee-have-hide\/\">What does the Democratic National Committee have to hide?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Those lawmakers include an array of senators, whose chamber was the focus of the 2025 shutdown over bipartisan efforts to craft a deal on the COVID-19-era health insurance subsidies. Democrats see the January deadline as another leverage point to force Republicans to the table on healthcare heading into the midterm elections.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;People will go to their respective corners and towel off and get ready to duke it out for the fall elections, but I still think there are some things that are clearly, hugely bipartisan,&rdquo; Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4363022\/trump-stress-tests-thune-senate-majority-2025\/\">recent interview<\/a> with the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-republicans-to-watch\">Key Republicans to watch<\/h2>\n<p>Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) were among the Republicans who&rsquo;ve been consequential figures in trying to find a bipartisan avenue on subsidies, tax credits that Democrats say are vital to millions of Americans with marketplace plans but that the GOP says are rife with fraud and are overly generous. The senators were among those involved in bipartisan discussions before the holiday recess after the upper chamber voted down dueling, partisan healthcare proposals from both parties. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who, like Collins, is a centrist, is also eager to make a deal.<\/p>\n<p>Collins and Moreno have proposed a two-year extension with income caps and phasing out the enhanced subsidies. It&rsquo;s a proposal that could help jump-start more negotiations. Cassidy&rsquo;s proposal, crafted with Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), that would shift government aid to fund health savings accounts, was the GOP bill that failed but presented a starting position for Republicans. And Britt, a rising star in the Republican conference, has been increasingly involved in various policy negotiations since President Donald Trump&rsquo;s return to the White House.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-key-democrats-to-watch\">Key Democrats to watch<\/h2>\n<p>The seven Senate Democrats who helped end the shutdown will also play a key role, along with the one Independent who caucuses with Democrats. They are Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Angus King (I-ME). They were also among the senators involved in bipartisan healthcare talks before the recess.<\/p>\n<p>Four of the 12 bills that comprise the annual budget have been passed and signed into law, rendering any funding lapse beyond Jan. 30 a partial shutdown. Senate Republicans struggled before recess to pass a five-bill funding measure despite <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3924755\/thune-clears-gop-minibus-logjam-help-trump\/\">clearing a logjam with fiscal hawks<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), left, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), right, attend a Senate Appropriations hearing, Wednesday, June 4, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In the Republican-controlled House, members will get a vote this month prior to the funding deadline on a clean three-year extension of the subsidies forced by Democrats and four centrist Republicans: Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick&nbsp;(R-PA), Mike Lawler&nbsp;(R-NY), Rob Bresnahan&nbsp;(R-PA), and Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA).<\/p>\n<p>And with the departure from Congress of Republican Georgia Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marjorie-taylor-greene\/\">Marjorie Taylor Greene<\/a>, the House GOP&rsquo;s majority will become even narrower with just a two-vote buffer. That makes past government funding rebels, including Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Greg Stuebe (R-FL), and House Freedom Caucus members all the more influential with their votes. Spending figures are likely to cause heartburn for budget hawks.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4363022\/trump-stress-tests-thune-senate-majority-2025\/\">TRUMP STRESS-TESTS THUNE&rsquo;S SENATE MAJORITY WITH RECORD-BREAKING YEAR<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Some of Trump&rsquo;s&nbsp;latest actions could also thwart the appetite for deal-making, such as the administration <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4074646\/trump-administration-dismantle-federal-climate-center\/\">dismantling a federal climate center<\/a>&nbsp;and halting construction of&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4355308\/trump-halts-five-offshore-wind-projects-national-security-concerns\/\">offshore wind projects<\/a>, which have drawn ire from Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>Sens.&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/michael-bennet\/\">Michael Bennet<\/a>&nbsp;(D-CO), who is running for governor in the Centennial State, and&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-hickenlooper\/\">John Hickenlooper<\/a>&nbsp;(D-CO) said they will &ldquo;pull every lever available to do what is right for Colorado&rdquo; and combat &ldquo;Trump&rsquo;s rampage,&rdquo; including procedural roadblocks to slow-walk appropriations bills.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lawmakers to watch as Jan. 31 funding deadline nears<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2529398,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25155601319149.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[38020,4402,39629,3673,35343],"class_list":["post-2529397","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-budget-negotiations","tag-congress","tag-government-shutdown","tag-lawmakers","tag-u-s-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25155601319149.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529397","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2529397"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529397\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2529401,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2529397\/revisions\/2529401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2529398"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2529397"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2529397"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2529397"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}