Senate Blocks Both Bills To End Government Shutdown
Jan. 25, 2019
The U.S. Senate has blocked legislation that incorporates President Trump’s proposal to fully open the government and includes his demand for $5.7 billion to help build a border wall, as the partial government shutdown approaches its 35th day - the longest in US history.
The Republican-backed bill failed by a margin of 50-47, far short of the 60 votes needed to defeat a filibuster. GOP Senators Mike Lee (Utah) and Tom Cotton (Arkansas) surprisingly voted against Trump's plan. Lee is considered a fiscal hawk, while Cotton is considered one of the Senate's most conservative members when it comes to immigraiton. Democrat Joe Manchin (D-W.VA) supported the GOP-backed measure.
Senate Republicans also blocked the Democrats' stopgap measure to end the partial shjutdown, voting 52-44 on the legislation, also short of the 60 votes needed to defeat a filibuster. Six Republicans crossed the aisle to vote for the bill, including Utah Senator Mitt Romney.
GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Susan Collins (Maine), Cory Gardner(Colo.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Mitt Romney(Nev.) broke rank and voted to advance the stopgap bill, which would have reopened the quarter of the government currently shuttered and funded it through Feb. 8.
The vote came after the Senate also rejected a White House-backed proposal on Thursday that would have exchanged reopening the government for $5.7 billion for the wall. It would have allowed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and some Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders to apply for a three-year extension of some legal protections, but included new restrictions on asylum seekers. -The Hill
The two failed votes in the Senate all but guarantees that the partial government shutdown will stretch into next week, while more than 800,000 federal workers will miss their second paycheck on Friday.
Last month the Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) that would have prevented the partial shutdown and funded operations until February 8, however it was ill fated after President Trump said that he would not sign any legislation that did not include $5.7 billion for his border wall.
"Leader McConnell says that President Trump’s bill is the only way to open up the government – bull. He claims our bill won’t pass because President Trump won’t sign it. Has he ever heard of a veto override? Has he ever heard of Article I?" asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) from the floor of the Senate on Thursday.
Schumer has called Trump's plan "harshly partisan," adding that the pain caused by the shutdown is "getting deeper and deeper every day."
Jan. 25, 2019
The U.S. Senate has blocked legislation that incorporates President Trump’s proposal to fully open the government and includes his demand for $5.7 billion to help build a border wall, as the partial government shutdown approaches its 35th day - the longest in US history.
The Republican-backed bill failed by a margin of 50-47, far short of the 60 votes needed to defeat a filibuster. GOP Senators Mike Lee (Utah) and Tom Cotton (Arkansas) surprisingly voted against Trump's plan. Lee is considered a fiscal hawk, while Cotton is considered one of the Senate's most conservative members when it comes to immigraiton. Democrat Joe Manchin (D-W.VA) supported the GOP-backed measure.
Senate Republicans also blocked the Democrats' stopgap measure to end the partial shjutdown, voting 52-44 on the legislation, also short of the 60 votes needed to defeat a filibuster. Six Republicans crossed the aisle to vote for the bill, including Utah Senator Mitt Romney.
GOP Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.), Susan Collins (Maine), Cory Gardner(Colo.), Johnny Isakson (Ga.), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Mitt Romney(Nev.) broke rank and voted to advance the stopgap bill, which would have reopened the quarter of the government currently shuttered and funded it through Feb. 8.
The vote came after the Senate also rejected a White House-backed proposal on Thursday that would have exchanged reopening the government for $5.7 billion for the wall. It would have allowed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and some Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders to apply for a three-year extension of some legal protections, but included new restrictions on asylum seekers. -The Hill
The two failed votes in the Senate all but guarantees that the partial government shutdown will stretch into next week, while more than 800,000 federal workers will miss their second paycheck on Friday.
Last month the Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) that would have prevented the partial shutdown and funded operations until February 8, however it was ill fated after President Trump said that he would not sign any legislation that did not include $5.7 billion for his border wall.
"Leader McConnell says that President Trump’s bill is the only way to open up the government – bull. He claims our bill won’t pass because President Trump won’t sign it. Has he ever heard of a veto override? Has he ever heard of Article I?" asked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) from the floor of the Senate on Thursday.
Schumer has called Trump's plan "harshly partisan," adding that the pain caused by the shutdown is "getting deeper and deeper every day."
