Insights

Today on the Hill: Senate Leaders Reach Deal to Vote on Funding Proposals

January 23, 2019

Senate leadership struck a deal yesterday to bring two government funding proposals to the floor for a vote in hopes of ending the 33-day shutdown. Under the terms of the agreement reached by Leaders Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senate will first vote on President Trump’s proposal (textsummary), which provides $5.7 billion for his border wall priority in addition to temporary protections for young immigrants enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and Temporary Protected Status for refugees. If the President’s proposal fails to clear the upper chamber, Senators will then vote on a three-week continuing resolution (CR) that would fund shuttered departments and agencies through Feb. 8 — ensuring furloughed federal workers receive backpay while providing additional flexibility to reach a broader deal.

Despite the signs of progress from both sides, it’s unlikely that both proposals will reach the 60-vote threshold needed for passage in the Senate. Leader McConnell stated that he will oppose the short-term CR given President Trump’s refusal to sign spending legislation that does not adequately fund the border wall. Democratic opposition to the president’s proposal is also mounting in both chambers, as it’s unlikely Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) will bring the president’s proposal up for a vote if it clears the upper chamber.