Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is backing the passage of a short-term stopgap bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown ahead of Friday’s&n
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is backing the passage of a short-term stopgap bill aimed at preventing a government shutdown ahead of Friday’s deadline.
« As we wait for the House to take the next steps, I encourage my colleagues on the Senate to review the legislation. We’ll pass it before the end of the week, » McConnell said Monday.
Lawmakers have to pass legislation funding the government by Friday to prevent a shutdown.
The House Appropriations Committee introduced legislation over the weekend that would fund the government for two weeks, through Dec. 22 .
A vote in the House is expected as soon as Wednesday on the measure.
« This bill, one without any controversial policy riders, will continue government funding and give the House and Senate time to complete their work on a long-term solution, » McConnell added Monday .
Republicans will need the support of Democrats to get the bill through the Senate and potentially the House, where conservatives are worried that an end-of-the-year bill will get loaded down with Democratic priorities.
Democrats have yet to say if they support passing a two-week continuing resolution.
McConnell, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are expected to go to the White House on Thursday to discuss year-end negotiations.
Schumer said negotiators are continuing to talk, but said Trump’s rhetoric is throwing a « monkey wrench » into the process.
« Nobody should want to see a government shutdown. We should all be working to avoid one. And I must say I don’t believe my Republican friends… want a government shutdown. The only one at the moment who’s flirted with a shutdown is President Trump, » he said.
