Government Shutdown Likely After Schumer Says Senate Dems Will Block GOP Funding Bill

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Wednesday that most Democrats in the upper chamber will not support a House Republican-passed bill to fund the federal government through the end of September, all but ensuring a partial shutdown beginning at 11:59 p.m. Friday.

“Funding the government should be a bipartisan effort, but Republicans chose a partisan path, drafting their [continuing resolution] without any input — any input — from congressional Democrats,” Schumer (D-NY) said on the Senate floor Wednesday.

“Because of that, Republicans do not have the votes in the Senate to invoke cloture on the House CR. Our caucus is unified on a clean [CR through April 11] that will keep the government open and give Congress time to negotiate bipartisan legislation that can pass.”

With Republicans holding a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, and legislation needing 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, at least seven Democrats would need to support the spending bill, which passed the House 217-213 Tuesday night.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has also opposed the measure, so the GOP will need eight Democratic defections if there is full attendance in the chamber. (Read more from “Government Shutdown Likely After Schumer Says Senate Dems Will Block GOP Funding Bill” HERE)

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