BUDGET: “The threat of a partial government shutdown intensified as senators signaled opposition to a short-term spending bill that the House passed Thursday [1-18-17] evening.
Senate Democrats indicated on Thursday they had the votes to block the measure to keep the government funded through Feb. 16, according to multiple congressional aides. At least two Republican senators also opposed the bill. Republicans control 51 Senate seats but need at least 60 votes to clear procedural hurdles, a tall order if Democrats stay unified and some Republicans defect.
The House on Thursday evening voted 230-197 to approve a short-term spending bill, after House leaders worked to wrangle GOP lawmakers during the day. Six Democrats voted in favor of the measure; 11 Republicans opposed it.
Democrats were opposed to the bill because they said it left many other issues unresolved. They have been seeking to use their leverage in the spending negotiations to reach a deal on the fate of Dreamers, young illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. by their parents.
The Senate began considering the bill Thursday night. The first vote, to open debate on the measure, was supported by Democrats to buy more time to reach a better deal on immigration, a congressional aide said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said, ‘We want to move forward. We want to get something done.’
If a deal doesn’t emerge by 12:01 a.m. EST Saturday, the government would partially shut down.”
-Natalie Andrews, Kristina Peterson, and Siobhan Hughes, “House Passes Stopgap Budget Bill; Senate Resistance Remains as Shutdown Looms,” The Wall Street Journal online, Jan. 19, 2018