Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Vice President Mike Pence on Friday that there’s no chance the Senate will approve any wall funding in a bill to keep the government open past midnight.
“Leader Schumer reminded them that any proposal with funding for the wall will not pass the Senate and that two proposals that Leader [Nancy] Pelosi and he offered the president in the Oval Office last week are both still on the table,” said a spokesman for the New York Senator. “As is Leader [Mitch] McConnell’s proposal that the Senate unanimously passed two nights and could pass the House and avoid a shutdown if the President signaled he would sign it.”
Schumer met at Pence’s request, along with Office of Management and Budget Director, and incoming chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney and Trump adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Schumer said other proposals that boost border security but without funding for the wall could still pass.
After the meeting with Schumer, Pence walked across the Capitol to meet with Reps. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Mark Walker, R-N.C.
The meetings come as lawmakers try to work out a solution to keep one-quarter of the government up and running ahead of the midnight deadline.
President Trump said earlier Friday that a partial shutdown could last a “very long time.” He has been seeking a package that includes $5 billion for a border wall and border security, which the House voted for Thursday night. The Senate is unlikely to pass that measure given the necessary 60 votes to advance it.
