United States President Donald Trump indicated that the government shutdown could be nearing an end. He emphasised that any deal will not include funding for prisoners or undocumented immigrants entering the country. His remark came amid the reports that a group of at least eight Senate Democratic centrists have reached a deal with Senate GOP leaders and the White House to reopen the government in exchange for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care subsidies.
US Government shutdown nears end
Speaking to reporters, Trump said that he believes Democrats understand the current position and hinted that a resolution could be announced very soon. The shutdown has lasted over 40 days now. “Looks like we’re getting very close to (ending) the shutdown. We’ll never agree to give any money to prisoners and illegals that come into our country. And I think the Democrats understand that. And it looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending. You’ll know very soon,” he stated.
Senate-GOP deal
The deal was reportedly brokered between Senate Majority Leader Thune, the White House, and three former governors, Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, and independent Senator Angus King of Maine. It is reported that Thune is pushing a plan to advance the House-passed resolution and then amend it with a broader appropriations package, known as a “minibus,” along with a longer extension for government funding. Senate budget leaders on Sunday released the text of three long-term spending bills, which form the core of the GOP plan to resolve the shutdown.
What comes next?
The deal, if successful would end the longest shutdown in US history and include a new stopgap measure to extend government funding until January. If approved, the Senate will first vote on the House-passed stopgap measure, requiring support from at least eight Democrats to proceed. It will then be amended to include the broader funding package before heading back to the House for final passage. Once cleared by both chambers, the bill would go to President Trump who will formally approve it.
To advance the continuing resolution, the Senate requires 60 votes, making it a key focus of the bipartisan push to end the weeks-long deadlock. CBS News reported, a deal was reached in the Senate ahead of the vote, with at least eight Democrats prepared to support advancing the funding measure on Sunday night. This development comes after negotiations were held between Senate Republicans, centrist Democrats, and the White House.
