By Siobhan Hughes and Lindsay Wise
WASHINGTON—Senate Democrats took the threat of a government shutdown off the table, following a grueling intraparty fight in which lawmakers struggled with how best to resist President Trump’s fast-paced efforts to slim down federal agencies.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said he would vote to advance a Republican measure, set for Friday morning, to fund the government through September. Earlier, in a closed-door lunch, he also said that enough Democrats would join him to help the Republicans clear the chamber’s critical 60-vote hurdle, people familiar with the matter said.
“I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down,” Schumer said on the Senate floor, characterizing Democrats’ alternatives as a Hobson’s choice with no good option. He said that in a shutdown, Trump could decide “to cherry pick which parts of the government to reopen in a protracted shutdown.”
Democrats had struggled for days on how to approach the GOP bill, which provides the administration more flexibility to downsize and dismantle federal agencies, which Democrats adamantly oppose. The funding measure had also provided the party with a rare piece of leverage in Republican-controlled government, and House Democrats and activists have been urging senators to use it to fight back.
Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
The South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service.
In no event shall the South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service. The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice.
The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components
