🗓️ What’s Up Next
Congress
The House remains in recess. The Senate is in session all week, from October 27th to 31st.
The PA General Assembly
Both the House and Senate are in session this week from October 27th to October 29th.
Want a deeper dive?
If there’s a topic you’re interested in our analysis of, feel free to drop us a line. We’ll be doing deeper dives on the big stuff as it happens, but we’re always happy to hear what you want to know.
The Congressional Breakdown
The GOP-led stopgap bill fails in the Senate for the 13th time—pushing us into day 29, or week four, of the shutdown. The cracks are starting to get deeper as open enrollment for health insurance begins on November 1st, and some states warn that no SNAP benefits will be distributed beginning in November as their reserve of federal funds runs out.
According to Politico, Senate Majority Leader Thune and a few GOP senators, Speaker Mike Johnson and other House GOP leaders “appear increasingly convinced that enough centrist Democrats are getting ready to fold”. But what’s got them thinking that?
What They’re Talking About
Despite urging from a powerful union—the American Federation of Government Employees, who called on Congress to pass the stopgap bill and end the shutdown—Democrats and Republicans alike have signaled that they’re unlikely to change their respective positions.
Vice President JD Vance announced at a luncheon on Tuesday that military troops will receive their paychecks after all, after a week of uncertainty whether or not they would, given that the appropriations funding for 2026 has not been allocated, and therefore can’t pay anyone. But—a $130 million private donation from Timothy Mellon of BYN Mellon Bank was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of servicemembers salaries. The problem? The Pentagon can’t legally use the funds without congressional approval.
Reportedly, Republicans are discussing holding votes on stand-alone bills to lessen certain impacts of the shutdown, such as rumored legislation from Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) that would fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for the duration of the shutdown. Though, Senate Majority Leader Thune isn’t for it—claiming that there’s no interest in doing ‘rifle shots’. Rather, he continues taking the stance that the only way to solve the issue is to reopen the government. Despite talk about a proposal, it’s not expected to be voted on this week, which will inevitably push the shutdown into the one-month mark. Notably, Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are open to the idea of single bills as the shutdown effects worsen.
Though an off-ramp has yet to materialize, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer shared that he believes post-November 1st, Republicans will face increased pressure to negotiate with their Democratic counterparts. Unsurprisingly, White House officials are in favor of an even longer funding punt than the one the Senate is currently toying with, which is January 21st. The White House would see it thrown out to March.
Pennsylvania Update: As the holiday season approaches, fallout from the shutdown is likely to get even more visible. On Saturday, the government will cease distribution of key food aid benefits—one in eight Americans relies on SNAP. (Politico) As important airport personnel continue to work without pay, there’s fear that major travel disruptions could occur as more and more workers call out, causing potential safety issues as we move into our busiest travel season.
Amidst the news of more SNAP cuts—which we’ll discuss at length in a moment—Governor Josh Shapiro has joined a coalition of 25 states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump Administration for unlawfully suspending SNAP benefits during the shutdown. The legal action was filed in the District Court of Massachusetts and demands that billions of dollars available in federal contingency funding be released to help sustain the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
As recently as last month, the USDA posted on their website that contingency funds could be used to extend SNAP benefits beyond November 1—but the Secretary of Agriculture reversed course, claiming that the contingency funds are for “natural disasters only”.
One in six Pennsylvanians, or nearly 2 million people in the state, rely on SNAP benefits to supplement or cover their household's groceries. In Philadelphia, that statistic is nearly 1 in 3 people. Each month, the state receives more than $350 million in funds from the federal government to support grocers, food retailers, and PA’s agricultural industry, in addition to familial assistance. According to the PA.Gov website, SNAP provides 9 meals for every 1 meal provided by the state’s charitable network, making the benefits of the program irreplaceable.
SNAP payments run out on Saturday, the same day that open enrollment begins for healthcare coverage.
In addition to SNAP benefits ceasing, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, a supplemental food program specifically designed for mothers and children, will run out of funding on November 9. While the administration advanced funds through October to the tune of $300 million—revenue from new tariffs—the program’s reserves are still depleted. Rep. Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) introduced a bill on Tuesday that would fund the WIC Program during the shutdown, but it’ll be tough to get it to a vote—Speaker Johnson has not called a House session since the shutdown, and maintains that he will not until the government reopens, stalling all House movement.
🔥 What We’re Watching
Some Republicans are convinced that the Supreme Court will overturn a key element the Voting Rights Act before the midterms, and are preparing to redraw their congressional maps as a result.
President Trump receives a strange welcome in South Korea—a replica crown, and a crowd of protesters.
We’re watching as Hurricane Melissa moves—first making landfall yesterday as a Category 5 hurricane, damaging infrastructure in Jamaica. It’s now made landfall in Cuba as a Category 3, though has since been downgraded to a Category 2 storm with sustained wings of 120 mph.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston extends her order barring the administration from mass firings during the government shutdown.
Further Reading
Did You Know? Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Washington County, Pennsylvania, is the oldest-known site of human habitation in North America dating back 16,000 years—seriously. And, you can visit it!
Till next time,