Government shutdown updates: Johnson tells House members to return to Washington

Schumer says Republicans now ‘own’ health care crisis

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer argued on Monday that Republicans are now to blame for rising health care costs after Affordable Care Act subsidies were not included in the bipartisan deal to reopen the government.

«The American people have now awoken to Trump’s health care crisis. Health care is once again at the forefront of people’s minds. People now see that premiums are about to skyrocket. They’re terrified about how they’re going to pay for their insurance,» Schumer said on the Senate floor. «Democrats demanded that we find a way to fix this crisis and quickly, but Republicans have refused to move an inch. So, I cannot support the Republican bill that’s on the floor because it fails to do anything of substance to fix America’s health care crisis.»

“Doing nothing is unacceptable, but that’s the choice the Republican side made in obeisance to Donald Trump,” Schumer added. “Republicans now own this health care crisis. They knew it was coming. We wanted to fix it. Republicans said no, and now it’s on them.»

-ABC News’ Fritz Farrow

Thune implores senators ‘not to stand in the way’ of quickly passing bill

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, in floor remarks on Monday, pushed for the deal to end the shutdown to be passed as quickly as possible, as questions remain on timing.

«I said that we will be voting on the final package in the very near future, and I’m hoping that will be hours and not days,» Thune said.

It takes unanimous approval of all 100 senators to speed ahead toward a final vote. If there is an objection from even one senator, it would be enough to slow the process down.

«I’m grateful that the end is in sight, but I would encourage every member of this body, Democrat or Republican, pro-bill or anti-bill, not to stand in the way of being able to deliver the coming relief quickly. The American people have suffered for long enough,» Thune said.

Trump tells air traffic controllers to ‘get back to work, NOW,’ urges $10,000 bonus for some

President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at air traffic controllers who have called out of work amid the government shutdown, as he recommended a $10,000 bonus for those workers who kept working without pay.

«All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!» Trump wrote. «Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked.’ For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country. For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A.»

The president went on to call for workers who took time off to leave the profession «with NO payment or severance of any kind»

«You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind!» Trump wrote. «You will be quickly replaced by true Patriots, who will do a better job on the Brand New State of the Art Equipment, the best in the World, that we are in the process of ordering.»

Johnson doesn’t take any questions at press conference

House Speaker Mike Johnson notably refused to take questions from reporters in the House Radio-TV gallery, where members are required to take at least one question.

«There were probably lots of questions, but I’m going to get a lot of my own questions answered later today, so stay tuned for more,» Johnson said.

-ABC New’s Lauren Peller