Sen Kennedy says shutdown could last 2 more weeks amid ongoing Obamacare dispute

Ahead of a 15th attempt to reopen the government, Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters that he doesn't expect a resolution to the 38-day government shutdown to come any time soon, casting gloom on optimistic forecasts of a resolution this week.

"I think we're at least seven days and more likely 10 and very possibly two weeks away from opening up at the best," Kennedy said.

He said he expected Democrats would maintain a united front against a short-term spending extension on Friday. 

"I have been told that the Democrats who've been negotiating with us are going to all vote no to proceed to the bill. That is an accommodation to their more aggressive Democratic senators. They've agreed to vote no one more time," Kennedy said.

Although Kennedy isn't directly involved in negotiations, his comments came after a closed-door discussion of the shutdown's standing with fellow Republican senators on Thursday.

Over a month later, Kennedy said those same issues remain unmoved although some senators, like Kennedy, have signaled a willingness to address the subsidies - but not until after the government re-opens.

"Republicans are not going to vote to extend the Obamacare subsidies for the exchanges without changes," he said. "We will agree to doing it with changes, but I know we're not going to give the Democrats what they want."

"The last time I talked to [Democrats], they wanted a vote on the Obamacare subsidies - and guaranteed passage. Then we're going to be shut down for a long time because that's just not going to happen," he said.