Reuters: Clock running out as Senate tries to avert government shutdown
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate raced to avert a government shutdown on Friday ahead of a midnight deadline with no agreement on funding in sight and both parties squabbling over who is to blame for the impasse.
President Donald Trump postponed plans to leave Washington on Friday as a bill to fund the government through Feb. 16, approved on Thursday night by the House of Representatives, appeared on the verge of collapse in the Senate, where Democratic votes are needed to pass it.
The Republican-controlled House planned to adjourn later on Friday for a scheduled week-long break but members were warned they could be called back for votes and to stay flexible.
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said on Thursday he was ratcheting up the likelihood of a government shutdown from 30 percent to a 50-50 possibility.
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WNU Editor: I feel like I am reliving Ground-Hog Day. When the Republicans were out of government, they were accused of holding the government hostage. Now that they are in power .... they are being accused of the same thing. This is so predictable. But this is the first time that I am seeing the U.S. government shut down because many believe (in both political parties) that the immigration status of children who entered the country illegally are more important than American citizens who are dependent and/or want government services.
Update: U.S. Defense Secretary is saying that a government shutdown will impact the U.S. military (link here).
Update #2: I do not expect President Trump to do what President Obama did when he faced a government shutdown and decided to shut-down tourists spots (i.e. yellow tape and iron fences around the World War II memorial), telling TSA staff to go home at major airports, etc., and blaming the Republicans for it. Nope .... I expect the opposite .... a government running in a manner that no one is going to notice.
Update #3: I do not know how long this U.S. government shut-own will last (if it does get shut down), but in the end all parties will eventually reach an agreement. But Washington is all about politics, and for the Democrats this "government shut-down" story has put the booming U.S. economy off the news channels, as well as the alleged explosive revelations behind this 4-page FISA memo .... U.S. GOP Lawmakers Want 'Alarming' Memo On FISA Abuses Be Made Public.