PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – As the U.S. government’s nearly two-week shutdown continues, Oregon leaders are pushing to get things back on track.

Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley joined Reps. Suzanne Bonamici, Andrea Salinas, and Maxine Dexter for a press conference Monday afternoon as Democrats and Republicans continue their stalemate over health care.

The five Democrats decried the looming increases in care premiums and called on Republicans to end the shutdown by sitting down with Democrats to fix the problem.

On Monday, Republican Speaker Mike Johnson predicted that the shutdown may become the longest in U.S. history. He said he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they hit pause on their health care demands and reopen.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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