A partial government shutdown appeared increasingly likely Friday after the Senate advanced a doomed measure that would fund the government until Feb. 8 without any political deal in sight.
Democrats were poised to block a bill that would keep open about nine agencies whose funding expires at midnight. The Democrats oppose the addition of $5.7 billion for border security and the construction of a southern border wall.
Senate Republicans advanced the spending bill nevertheless, after holding the vote open the entire day and summoning senators who had already left for the holiday break.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said negotiations would continue to find an agreement between Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate and President Trump.
“I hope senate Democrats will work with the White House on an agreement that can pass both houses of Congress and receive the president’s signature,” McConnell said.
McConnell told lawmakers he would not summon them back to vote until a deal is reached that can pass. Many senators had to fly back to Washington to cast their vote that called up the bill for discussion after leaving town Thursday.
The Senate had already passed a spending bill that did not include the $5.7 billion in border security. But President Trump announced he would not sign it without the wall funding, prompting the House to amend the Senate bill with the additional funding.
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., is not planning to come back for the vote. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., initially voted against opening debate on the spending bill, but later changed to a “yes” vote even though he is expected to vote against it later.
The House, meanwhile, remained in session and was voting on minor legislation as it waited for the Senate to act. The House passed the Feb. 8 measure with the border wall funding on Thursday.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., met with Vice President Mike Pence and Trump adviser Jared Kushner at their request and told them Democrats would only agree to proposals that provide $1.3 billion for border security and not for wall construction.
Schumer repeated the offer after lawmakers advanced the House bill Friday evening.
“We are willing to continue discussions on those proposals,” Schumer said.
