Sen. Christopher Coons Christopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsBiden promises Democratic senators help in battleground states Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Pence lauds Harris as 'experienced debater'; Trump, Biden diverge over debate prep MORE (D-Del.) on Sunday compared trying to negotiate with Republicans to convincing his kids to keep doing their homework.

“It’s like Dad comes home at 8 and asks, ‘How are you doing on your homework?’ ‘Oh, making progress.’ At 9, ‘How we doing on that homework?’ ‘Making progress — What’s the big deal? It’s not due until tomorrow,' ” Coons said on “Fox News Sunday.”

Coons said Democrats want a guaranteed "commitment to move forward on all these issues we’ve been talking about” in order to negotiate a bill to reopen the government.

"It's overdue," Coons said.

The government shutdown stretched into its second day on Sunday after Senate Democrats and a small group of Republicans opposed a continuing resolution that would have funded the government for another few weeks.

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Coons said Democrats want votes on key issues, including the Children’s Health Insurance Program, disaster relief and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Coons pushed back on the suggestion that Democrats were political “arsonists,” the term used by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election Trump is betting big on the suburbs, but his strategy is failing 'bigly' Trump orders flags at half-staff to honor 'trailblazer' Ginsburg MORE (D-Calif.) to describe House Republicans who voted to shut down the government in 2013.

“Just because I voted against a temporary continuing resolution, I’m not an arsonist,” Coons said.

Coons said he believes a group of bipartisan senators is making progress on a solution. He said coming to an agreement is difficult, however, because President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE has not indicated what deal he’d be willing to accept.

“At the end of the day, part of our challenge here is negotiating with a president who struggles to hear 'yes,' ” Coons said.

“I have a lot of sympathy for [Senate Majority] Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMomentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Trump expects to nominate woman to replace Ginsburg next week Video of Lindsey Graham arguing against nominating a Supreme Court justice in an election year goes viral MORE [R-Ky.], who said on Friday night, ‘How am I supposed to negotiate on this issue when we still don’t know what president will accept?’ ” Coons added.