Senate Republicans are looking to pass a six-month funding bill to avert a government shutdown on March 14. Senate Democrats have so far rejected the GOP bill.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said on March 13 that he is open to voting on a Democratic amendment to a GOP bill to keep the government going past March 14.
The Democratic amendment would keep the government open for 28 days until April 11. This plan was advanced in opposition to a Republican six-month spending bill, known as a continuing resolution (CR), to boost defense spending and cut non-defense spending over last year’s levels.
The House of Representatives on March 11 passed the GOP bill that would fund the government through Sept. 30 and increase defense spending by about $6 billion while cutting non-defense spending by some $13 billion. The lower chamber is currently in recess.
“If they want a vote on that in exchange for getting us the votes to pass the [CR] to Sept. 30, I think we’re open to that,” Thune told reporters.
“But as you all know, the House is gone, so whatever happens is going to have to be the final action here, and really, it’s up to them.”
The Senate majority leader said he hasn’t heard from Senate Democrats yet about their plan, adding that he doesn’t know if a shutdown will happen. Congress is less than two days away from a government shutdown deadline on Friday at midnight.
“I don’t know. We’ll see. I hope not,” Thune said. “It’s up to them. It’s their call. The ball is in their court.”
The GOP controls the Senate with 53 seats but needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster and advance the bill toward a final vote. With Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) against the bill, the GOP needs eight Democrats to join them in getting it over the finish line.
