Senate reaches compromise to end shutdown
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Monday that he and Senate GOP leaders have reached a deal to reopen the government, and the chamber is on track to pass a plan to keep the government funded for three weeks.
"We will vote today to reopen the government," Schumer said on the Senate floor, saying he and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had reached an "Arrangement."
The Senate passed the procedural vote allowing the bill to advance 81-18. A vote on final passage is expected later Monday afternoon. Ref. CNN.
There is still one final vote and then this is just for 3 weeks so its not a permanent solution. Federal non-essential workers will need to budget tight from here on.
International Level: Junior Politician / Political Participation: 100 10%
White House tells federal agencies to prepare for limited government shutdown after Sen. Rand Paul blocks spending bill. The Office of Management and Budget alerted federal agencies to prepare for a limited shutdown at midnight Thursday as Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., took to the Senate floor to block passage of a sweeping budget deal that would increase spending by more than $300 billion over two years. The government is operating on its fourth short-term spending bill - which expires at midnight - because Congress has been unable to agree on a full-year budget. The budget deal is attached to a short-term spending measure that will keep the government open until March 23, giving lawmakers time to write a full-year bill. If the Senate passes it, the legislation still needs to go to the House for final approval. Ref. USAToday.
President Trump releases 2019 budget request; seeks funding for border security and infrastructure. President Trump on Monday released his budget proposal for the next fiscal year. It's the first step toward filling in the details of a two-year budget framework passed by Congress last week, which increased caps on both military and domestic spending and includes down payments on some of his biggest priorities. Trump is requesting Congress provide $23 billion for border security and immigration enforcement, $21 billion for infrastructure, and $17 billion to combat the opioid epidemic. Ref. USAToday.
Halfway home: House passes $1.3 trillion spending plan but obstacles await in Senate. The House passed a spending bill on Thursday that funds the government through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The legislation passed on a bipartisan vote but many liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans voted no. The bill now goes to the Senate where individual senators have more power to hold up legislation. If Congress doesn’t act by Friday at midnight, the government will run out of money and partially shut down. Ref. USAToday.
Government set to shut down as Sen. Cornyn says no vote
While negotiations continue in Congress to reach a deal to avert a partial government shutdown, there is virtually no chance a vote will happen Friday night -- all but assuring there will be a government shutdown at midnight.
The House has adjourned, and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn says there will be no vote Friday night in the Senate. Ref. CNN.