Author: Thornrun

Democratic lawmakers are readying attempts to end the partial government shutdown as the funding lapse enters its 19^th day. In the House, members are set to vote on a series of individual government funding bills, starting with a vote today on the Financial Services and General Government bill that would fund the Treasury Department, Executive Office of the President (EOP), and an assortment of independent agencies. Despite increased House GOP support for Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) plan, it remains unlikely that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will allow a vote on these spending bills absent support from President Trump, who reiterated his stance in a primetime address last night.

Continue reading “Today in Congress: House Dems Ready Push to End Partial Shutdown”

With both sides still far apart in talks to end the partial shutdown, House Democrats disclosed the next phase of their funding strategy as they look to put pressure on GOP lawmakers to reopen shuttered parts of the federal government. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced on Saturday that the House will vote on individual government funding bills this week, starting with the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill, which funds the Treasury Department, Executive Office of the President, and an assortment of independent agencies. Other spending bills that Democrats will consider this week would reopen the Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); and the departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. While the strategy may attract some House GOP support, it’s doubtful whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will allow a vote on any of these bills absent support from President Trump. 

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: Lawmakers Press to Resolve Government Shutdown”

Congressional lawmakers are expressing pessimism about reaching a solution to end the partial government shutdown as the funding lapse enters its second week. Yesterday, House Democrats — joined by a handful of Republicans — passed a pair of measures that would end the partial government shutdown without providing additional funding for President Trump's proposed border wall. Congressional leaders will head to the White House today for a second meeting this week with the president, who formally issued a veto threat to the House-passed package. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL) stated yesterday that the shutdown could last for months if Congress cannot reach a deal that President Trump approves.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Government Shutdown Enters 14th Day as 116th Congress Gets to Work”

The 116th Congress is set to gavel in tomorrow at noon amid a government funding lapse that has shut down roughly 25 percent of the federal government. Set to lead the lower chamber for the first time since 2010, House Democrats plan to pass two separate bills — one funding eight departments that have been closed since December 22, 2018 through this September, and another temporarily reopening the Department of Homeland Security for one month through February 8. However, the Democrat plan is likely dead on arrival after the Trump administration characterized it as a “non-starter.”

Continue reading “This Week on the Hill: 116th Congress Set to Gavel in Amid Contentious Government Shutdown”

House GOP lawmakers rejected Senate-passed legislation that would have provided a “clean” extension of government funding for seven weeks, opting instead to pass a stopgap bill that would provide $5.7 billion for President Trump's proposed U.S.-Mexico border wall and $8 billion for emergency disaster aid. President Trump told GOP leadership he would veto the Senate-passed bill over the lack of border wall funding while also warning Senators that the shutdown will last for “a very long time” if funding isn’t included. The President is expected to meet with Senate Republicans this morning to discuss the latest state of play with respect to the funding bill.

Continue reading “Today on the Hill: Shutdown Odds Raise After House Approves Trump’s Wall Funding”