Dems under pressure as shutdown fight shifts to Senate
Share and Follow


WASHINGTON () The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September.

In the Senate, the bill will need support from at least eight Democrats to get it to President Donald Trump’s desk. It’s one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president’s second term.

Senate Democrats say the six-month government funding resolution that passed the House on Tuesday is a “horrible” bill, but there’s growing sentiment within the Senate Democratic conference that it would be too risky to block the legislation and risk a government shutdown that could drag on for weeks.

Senate Democrats battled behind closed doors Tuesday over how to handle the House bill, with a number of Democrats especially those in swing states arguing a government shutdown must be avoided, even if it means reluctantly voting for a House GOP-drafted bill.

Senate Democrats spent well more than an hour debating how to proceed at their weekly caucus lunch meeting in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Room just off the Senate floor.

“The conversation today was divided. I can’t say we have a strategy,” said a Democratic senator who requested anonymity to comment on the internal deliberations. “There are a lot of people who haven’t made a decision.”

The lawmaker said Democrats are worried they would get the blame for a shutdown if they voted to defeat the House bill. The House is out of session for the rest of the week, upping the pressure on Senate Democrats.

affiliate The Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes West Coast and felt in major cities

Powerful 6.0 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes West Coast, Impact Felt Across Major Cities

A powerful earthquake off the coast of Oregon has sent tremors through…
Cops frantically begged for help with 'hostile' protesters after Renee Nicole Good shooting: 'ICE being surrounded'

Police Plead for Reinforcements Amid Intense Protest Over Renee Nicole Good Shooting: ‘ICE Under Siege

Authorities urgently called for assistance in managing a “hostile” crowd shortly after…
ICE releases photos after violent Minneapolis protests leave multiple alleged agitators arrested

Unveiled: ICE Shares Shocking Images of Minneapolis Unrest and Arrests of Alleged Instigators

On Friday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shared images of four…
Sophie Turner stuns fans with ripped Lara Croft transformation in 'Tomb Raider' first look photo

Sophie Turner’s Jaw-Dropping Lara Croft Makeover Revealed in First ‘Tomb Raider’ Photo

Sophie Turner has clearly been putting in the effort at the gym,…
Mexican drug cartel leader extradited to the US to face federal drug trafficking charges

Rocky Mountain States See Surge in Fentanyl and Meth Seizures as Mexican Cartels Intensify Trafficking Efforts

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) achieved unprecedented seizure records last year in…
Affluent Virginia suburb rocked as trial begins for ex-federal agent husband in nanny love-triangle murders

Virginia Nanny Moves into Master Bedroom Amidst Shocking Love Triangle Murder Case: New Photos Uncovered

WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT The courtroom in Virginia was filled with tension as…
Trump’s push to acquire Greenland sparks international media frenzy on remote island

Trump’s Proposal to Purchase Greenland Ignites Global Media Attention on the Island

As President Donald Trump intensifies his push to acquire Greenland, an influx…
Urgent questions Timothy Busfield's wife Melissa Gilbert must answer

Melissa Gilbert Faces Pressing Questions About Her Life with Timothy Busfield

He insists on his innocence. Actor and director Timothy Busfield, 68, has…