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Fact check: Which Republican lawmakers are working with Democrats on the continuing resolution?
Executive Summary
A defined but fluid group of senators from both parties are engaged in negotiations to avert the shutdown, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Sen. John Thune, and a cohort of GOP senators who signed a SNAP-focused bill repeatedly named in reporting as working across the aisle to find an “off‑ramp.” The cooperation centers on short-term fixes — notably a bipartisan SNAP funding measure backed by 14 Republican senators — and continued talks among moderates seeking a face‑saving exit while rank‑and‑file conversations increase, but no single, comprehensive roll call of every GOP lawmaker actively negotiating a full continuing resolution has been published [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. Who is publicly identified as working across the aisle and why this matters
Reporting identifies specific senators engaging in bipartisan efforts to end the impasse: Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen are named repeatedly as participants in direct bipartisan discussions, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune has signaled cautious optimism about the volume of rank‑and‑file conversations. The work has a practical focus: ensuring essential programs like SNAP remain funded and creating a short-term “off‑ramp” to end the shutdown next week. This matters because the negotiations are being driven by moderates on both sides seeking immediate relief for constituents, rather than by headline partisan maneuvers, and their influence can determine whether a narrowly tailored temporary measure or a more expansive continuing resolution becomes the vehicle to reopen parts of the government [1] [3] [4].
2. The concrete bipartisan product on the table: SNAP funding and who signed on
One tangible bipartisan product is a bill to continue SNAP benefits through the shutdown period. Reporting lists 14 Republican senators as sponsors or signees on that measure, with specific names reported to include Sen. Josh Hawley, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and Sen. Susan Collins among others. The SNAP-focused bill underscores the incremental, issue‑by‑issue approach negotiators are taking: keeping core safety‑net programs funded while broader budget disputes remain unresolved. That approach reflects lawmakers’ calculus that targeted votes on popular, urgent benefits can draw cross‑party support even as leaders haggle over larger appropriations questions [2].
3. Which senators have crossed party lines in votes and what that signals
Roll‑call evidence shows individual Democrats and an independent voting with Republicans on funding measures, notably Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, John Fetterman, and independent Angus King casting votes aligning with GOP proposals in recent funding decisions. These cross‑party votes indicate there is appetite for compromise on short‑term measures among some Democrats and centrists, which in turn creates incentive for Republicans to court moderate Democrats as part of any continuing resolution strategy. However, votes on individual bills do not equate to a durable coalition for a comprehensive continuing resolution; they demonstrate practical, transactional cooperation on distinct provisions rather than a wholesale interparty pact [5] [6].
4. How Senate leaders and moderates frame the talks — tone and reality check
Senate leaders and moderates characterize the current posture as increased bipartisan conversation with cautious optimism but not yet a breakthrough. Sen. Thune described more active rank‑and‑file engagement, while Sen. Gary Peters and other Democratic senators said talks are ongoing though a resolution is not immediate. Moderate Democrats are reported to be seeking a face‑saving exit from the standoff, especially given immediate pressures like SNAP expirations and rising health‑care costs. The dynamic is transactional and time‑sensitive: negotiators aim for narrow, short‑term fixes to alleviate urgent harm rather than resolving underlying fiscal disputes, which keeps the composition of any negotiating bipartisan group fluid and contingent on immediate leverage and constituent impacts [3] [4].
5. Gaps, uncertainties, and what to watch next
Available reporting provides names tied to specific efforts but no authoritative, exhaustive list of all Republican lawmakers actively and continuously working with Democrats on a full continuing resolution. Coverage points to a mix of bipartisan sponsorship on targeted bills, individual cross‑party votes, and intensified behind‑the‑scenes conversations; the practical takeaway is that a coalition for a narrow stopgap (SNAP or similar) is clearer than a coalition for a comprehensive CR. Watch for updated sponsorship lists, floor votes, and public statements from moderates over the coming days to see whether the temporary SNAP coalition expands into a majority for a broader continuing resolution or remains constrained to issue‑specific interventions [2] [7] [4].