Capitol chaos: Senate unable to pass spending bill, shutdown deadline just one day away
Jack Birle
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The Senate was unable to strike a deal on its massive omnibus spending bill on Wednesday night — meaning the deadline to avoid a shutdown is just one day away.
The $1.7 trillion government funding bill could not get across the line on Wednesday despite Senate leadership from both parties pushing for expedited approval.
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One of the key factors in the holdup is a push for Trump-era border policy to be included in the massive bill, per Politico.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) is looking to have a provision ensuring Title 42 is kept in place in order for the Department of Homeland Security to get its funding from Congress, per the report. Title 42, a pandemic-era order that allowed Border Patrol to deny migrants entry to the U.S. more easily, is only being upheld by a stay from the Supreme Court and could be dropped very soon.
Lee’s push for a title 42 provision is credited with holding up the spending bill, with the senator hoping to have the threshold lowered to 51 votes to get the amendment passed.
If negotiations fall apart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is considering reverting back to a short-term funding bill rather than the yearlong funding in the $1.7 trillion bill.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Thursday morning that a deal has not been finalized for the spending bill but that he is optimistic one will be completed later in the day.
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With the government set to shut down by Friday at midnight if a bill is not agreed to, stakes are high for politicians who also would like to leave before the Christmas holiday over the weekend.
Several Republicans in the Senate have received criticism for provisionally agreeing to the massive yearlong funding bill because some have argued a short-term bill should be passed to allow the GOP-led House to negotiate a longer deal beginning in January.