By Diyar Guldogan
WASHINGTON (AA) - The US federal government shutdown stretched into its seventh day Tuesday, with no resolution in sight, after Senate Democrats again blocked a Republican-led proposal to extend government funding through Nov. 21.
"So, that was their fifth vote to shut the government down on the American people. It is regrettable and sad, and real pain is being felt by real people because of these political shenanigans," House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a news conference.
His remarks came a day after the Senate rejected a House-passed Republican stopgap funding bill by a vote of 52-42, failing to pass a 60-vote threshold.
The Republicans are trying to fund the government, Johnson said, adding, "and you need Republicans and Democrats to work together to get that done."
Johnson said he wants furloughed workers to receive back pay.
"I hope that the furloughed workers receive back pay. Of course, we have some extraordinary Americans who serve the federal government. They serve valiantly, and they work hard, and they serve in these various agencies, doing really important work," he added.
While a shutdown does not automatically result in a full-blown economic crisis, it creates major disruptions for many aspects of American life.
Many federal employees deemed essential are furloughed, or forced to work without pay, while others have been placed on mandatory leave until a new budget is approved. Trump has added the threat of layoffs during the shutdown.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday that the government remains shut down because of the "refusal and unwillingness" by President Donald Trump and Republicans to provide health care to working class Americans.
"That's an unacceptable position, and that's why Democrats continue to fight this fight on behalf of the American people," Jeffries said at a news conference.
Democrats are "really concerned" about the Trump-Republican shutdown, Jeffries said, adding it is "part of a pattern of continuing to devastate the American economy."
"Let's address it on behalf of the American people. Let's reopen the government. Let's end the Trump shutdown. Let's actually enact a spending agreement that makes life better for the American people," he said.