Today on the Hill: No End in Sight as Government Shutdown Enters Day 27

House Democrats are readying another attempt to reopen shuttered federal agencies today as both parties remain entrenched in their respective shutdown positions. Democratic leadership has queued up a continuing resolution (H.J.Res.28) that provides funding for closed Federal agencies through February 28 without additional funding for President Trump’s border wall priority. However, the attempts to reopen the government have proven to be futile as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) refuses to allow a vote on spending legislation that isn’t supported by the President. At this point, there is no clear path toward an end to the 27-day shutdown as ratings agencies and economic forecasters raise red flags on the funding lapse’s impact on the economy. 

In the upper chamber, Senators are scheduled to begin consideration of a bill (S. 109) that would prohibit taxpayer funded abortions. Passage of the bill is unlikely as Senate Democrats have signaled they are prepared to block legislative items so long as parts of the federal government remain shut down.