Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced Thursday that he will act later in the day to advance a bipartisan government funding bill after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) failed to pass a partisan six-month funding measure that was tied to voter registration reform.
Schumer said the Senate now may have to act first to avoid a government shutdown, even though government funding bills are supposed to originate in the House.
With funding for many federal departments and agencies due to expire on Sept. 30, Johnson and other House GOP leaders have yet to unveil a “Plan B” bill that could muster enough votes to pass the lower chamber.
The six-month funding stopgap tied to legislation that would require proof of citizenship for voter registration failed Wednesday by a vote of 202 to 220, with 14 Republicans voting against it.
“By filing today, I’m giving the Senate maximum flexibility for preventing a shutdown. Democrats and Americans don’t want a Trump shutdown. I dare say most Republicans, at least in this chamber, don’t want to see a Trump shutdown,” Schumer said.
Posted by John3262005