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John Thune: “We need five more Democrats because... it takes 60 to do…”

Featuring: John Thune, Republican | Senate Majority Leader, South Dakota

Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution

Published October 9, 2025 | Video Starts at 01:25

We give the Democrats an opportunity pretty much on a daily basis to actually vote to do that. And we have 55 senators, a majority, 55 out of 100 senators who are voting to open the government. We need five more Democrats because... it takes 60 to do anything in the Senate. Senator Fetterman, Senator Fetterman, I guess rumor has it that he was in talking to you, how does this progress do you see getting to 60? (01:25–01:30)

CLAIM

Asserts that 60 votes are needed in the Senate to pass legislation.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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John Thune

“What they're asking for here... is $1.5 trillion in new spending for free health care benefits to be extended to noncitizens.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 04:23-04:34
“There are people who are making half a million 600 grand a year who are getting subsidies from the federal government.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 05:38-05:44
“There are literally millions of people on these policies today who don't even know they're covered.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 06:02-06:07
“We have 55 senators, a majority, 55 out of 100 senators who are voting to open the government.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 01:18-01:26
“Senator Fetterman has done what I think is the courageous thing... voted consistently to open the government back up.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 02:13-02:22
“We've got a bill... that's passed the House that's sitting at the desk in the Senate.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 02:51-02:55
“Obamacare at its core is inflationary.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 06:59-07:03
“The president would like to overhaul Obamacare and give people health insurance that is higher quality and more affordable.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 07:11-07:18
“Obamacare program in the first place and everything that goes with it has an inflationary impact on health care costs.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 07:43-07:51
“Health care costs have been going up. They're going to go up irrespective of what happens on these enhanced subsidies.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 07:50-07:57
“The very fact that it costs $400 billion to extend it, you know, suggests that there's, this thing ought to be ripe for reform.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 09:09-09:18
“We have 55 United States senators out of 100 who are voting to open up the government.”
Sen. John Thune on shutdown: The Democratic leadership has no interest in a solution | Uploaded October 9, 2025 | 09:57-10:03