Lawmakers and aides are looking at the looming failure Thursday of competing proposals to reopen the government as the most positive thing to happen in 34 days of government shutdown morass. Yes, that’s an indication of how bad things still are between the two sides, but as one GOP official put it to CNN: « We’re all desperate to be optimistic about anything at this point, so I’ll
What to watch
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. ET.
Senate holds two procedural votes on proposals to reopen the government at 2:30 p.m.
What to read
CNN’s Clare Foran has an excellent piece teeing up the day here.
What the SOTU spat actually means
Very little. It’s tough to overstate how frustrated rank-and-file members were with the whole exchange. There was clearly a strategy behind the moves by both sides, and perhaps that will provide some advantage in a one-on-one context. But as one Democratic lawmaker told CNN shortly after the President’s tweet late Wednesday night: « Thank God it’s over. »
Good indicator of where things actually stand
The House will hold its final votes of the week before the Senate even starts voting on Thursday. The chamber is scheduled to return on Monday.
The Senate votes
The Senate will take its first floor votes on anything to address the government shutdown since the impasse began a month ago. That in and of itself is somewhat amazing. But it underscores that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, is now off the sidelines after weeks of insisting it was up to the President and Democratic leaders to reach a deal. McConnell reached the conclusion last week amid the State of the Union kerfuffle that their dynamic would never lead to a deal. Neither, it should be noted, will the President’s proposal that will get a vote Thursday. McConnell’s next move, now that he’s engaged, will be a central piece of whatever happens next.
As we’ve noted repeatedly, the idea of showing something will fail to create actual space for talks is one that has been effective in the past — and remains the stated goal, primarily among Republicans. As Sen. Rob Portman, an Ohio Republican who has been working with the bipartisan « gang » of senators that has continued discussions on a pathway out — so far unsuccessfully — said: « My hope is that even if the proposal cannot pass with a 60-vote majority, which unfortunately seems likely right now, that it will spark good-faith negotiations to enable us to quickly end the government shutdown and move forward. »
How the votes will work
The Senate will hold two votes — both procedural, to end debate (cloture) — to advance amendments on the floor. Both votes are subject to a 60-vote threshold.
