Senate Democrats are still not committing to helping Republicans pass a seven-month funding stopgap, edging the country closer to a government shutdown as they attempt to force a vote on a shorter funding patch. After two days of lengthy closed-door caucus talks, with another planned for today, Democrats emerged with an attempted strategy Wednesday afternoon: Democrats won’t give Republicans the votes to advance the stopgap funding bill until they get an amendment vote on a “clean” CR through April 11. Senate Democrats say privately that they will not allow the government to shut down Saturday, despite growing pressure from activists and liberal lawmakers who want them to kill a GOP-crafted six-month stopgap spending bill and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (New York) is giving plenty of room to centrists in his caucus to vote for the House-passed continuing resolution if doing so is the only way to avoid a government shutdown at week’s end. Senate Democrats appear to be moving toward that potential offramp, securing a vote on a 30-day stopgap bill in exchange for helping the House passed bill, which funds government through September, clear the 60-vote filibuster hurdle — even if they ultimately oppose it on final passage.
While negotiations continue, the Senate is expected to take up the votes on Confirmation of Executive Calendar #30, William Pulte, to be Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency for a term of five years and Confirmation of Executive Calendar #32, Jeffrey Kessler, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security. The Senate may also consider a Motion to Invoke Cloture on Calendar #18, S.331 HALT Fentanyl Act.
