President Donald Trump and GOP leaders need the support of at least seven Senate Democrats to break a filibuster to keep the government open past September 30th. To entice Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York), they’re advancing a straight extension, which was released yesterday, of government funding until November 21st – without poison pills – and including another $30 million to bolster security measures for lawmakers themselves. Yet Leader Schumer and Democratic leaders say the actions taken by President Trump and the GOP-led Congress require a hardened approach – that they must withhold their votes until Republicans reverse some of their most controversial actions, like Medicaid cuts in President Trump’s massive domestic policy law and the president’s moves to undermine Congress’ spending powers. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) plans to take the first step later this week by putting the stopgap bill on the House floor, though he may need a handful of Democrats to push the bill through his chamber given the opposition from some of his conservative rank-and-file. If it passes the House, then Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats are signaling they’re ready to filibuster it potentially leading to a full government shutdown.
Today, the Senate will vote to end debate on a resolution to allow the en bloc consideration of 48 executive branch nominees at 11 A.M.
The House will consider yet more legislation related to crime in the District of Columbia, including a measure authorizing D.C. police to engage in car chases. It will also consider a rule that would govern floor debate on the short-term stopgap funding bill. Votes are expected at 5:30 P.M.
