US Senate defeats bills to reopen govt

By Ai Heping in New York | China Daily | Updated: 2019-01-26 06:36

The partial shutdown of the US federal government moved into its 35th day on Friday after the US Senate voted down two bills to reopen the government.

The two votes on Thursday marked the first time the Senate has formally moved on government funding since the shutdown began on Dec 22.

However, some lawmakers expressed hope that the attempt to end the stalemate could lead to talks about a compromise.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer met for about 30 minutes after the votes. Schumer left the meeting smiling and said: "We're talking."

Meanwhile, CNN.com, in a story published on Thursday evening that it called an exclusive, reported that the White House is preparing a draft proclamation for US President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency along the southern border and has identified more than $7 billion in potential funds for a border wall. CNN said it had reviewed internal documents.

Among the options being considered are taking $681 million from Treasury forfeiture funds, $3.6 billion from military construction, $3 billion in Pentagon civil works funds, and $200 million in Department of Homeland Security funds, CNN reported, citing a government official.

House Democrats reportedly are preparing a counteroffer to Trump that would provide at least $5 billion in border security, but no new funding for the wall he is demanding for the border with Mexico.

Both Senate measures needed 60 votes for passage on Thursday. Senate Democrats blocked a White House-backed plan to end the shutdown with a 51-47 vote. It included money for Trump's demand for a wall on the Mexican border and other immigration provisions.

Republicans then defeated by a vote of 52 to 44 the Democrats' proposal for a continuing resolution that would have authorized funds to reopen the government through Feb 8.

Friday marked the second consecutive payday this month when 800,000 federal workers either furloughed or forced to work without pay will miss a paycheck.

The number of federal employees applying for unemployment insurance has surged, according to a Labor Department report.

Federal civilian employees filed 25,419 initial jobless claims in the week ending Jan 12, about 15,000 more than the previous week. The 143 percent jump came around the time that the shutdown became the longest in US history.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump said on social media: "Without a wall there cannot be safety and security at the border."

Polls are showing that the public is blaming Trump for the continuing shutdown.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Wednesday found that 60 percent of those surveyed blame Trump for the funding lapse.

A CBS News poll released on Wednesday showed Trump with a 36-percent approval rating, his lowest of all polls this month.

aiheping@chinadailyusa.com