Senate Votes To End Government Shutdown After 3 Days

Senate Democrats voted to reopen the government on Monday after getting a Republican commitment to vote on immigration legislation, which will lead to the end of the three-day government shutdown.

SENATE VOTES TO END GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

The Senate voted 81-18 to continue with a bill to fund the government through Feb. 8 after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) reached an agreement to end the shutdown. If by Feb. 8 the Senate fails to reach a broader deal, then they would have to create legislation to protect the thousands of undocumented immigrants who are losing protection as long as the government remains open.

“This is the first time in history that under Republican control, that we’re gonna take up this issue on the floor,” Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) told Politico. “The only other time we’ve taken up immigration is under Democratic leadership. So there’s no way Leader McConnell would’ve done this had we not stood firm.”

Apparently Monday’s discussions were getting so heated that Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) had to keep the peace by ordering any senator who wanted to speak to hold a “talking stick.” Even this got out of hand when Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia) forcefully threw the stick toward Collins and almost broke one of her belongings, making her switch to using a small rubber ball as the talking token.

Also on Monday, the stop-gap spending bill passed in the Senate and was being sent to the House of Representatives to be passed there. “The process will be neutral and fair to all sides,” Schumer said. “We expect that a bipartisan bill on [the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, aka DACA] will receive fair consideration and an up-or-down vote on the floor.”

The Democrats were skeptical at first about McConnell’s commitment, but decided to trust his word. “I’m encouraged by the commitments Leader McConnell has made,” said Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware). “I’m looking forward to the vote and I think it will be important that we take a step forward.”

Schumer took to Twitter to keep civilians apprised of the situation. “I am confident that there are sixty votes in the Senate for a DACA deal. And now there is a real pathway to get a bill on the floor and through the Senate. It is a good solution and I will vote for it,” he wrote. “I expect @SenateMajLdr to fulfill his commitment to the Senate & abide by this agreement. If he does not honor our agreement, he will have breached the trust of not only the Democratic Senators but the members of his own party as well. The GOP Majority now has 17 days to prevent #Dreamers from being deported. In every possible way, urge your Senators to vote yes on our bipartisan compromise to #ProtectDreamers when it comes to the floor. Soon, the govt will reopen, and we have a lot to do:

• #ProtectDreamers
• Write a budget
• Address health care, veterans, disaster relief, pensions & the opioid epidemic.

The #TrumpShutdown will soon end, but the work goes on.”

While the Senate appears confident about the dealings, Donald Trump is blaming Democrats for the shutdown and has said nothing about DACA or the deal made between McConnell and Schumer. “Democrats have shut down our government in the interests of their far left base. They don’t want to do it but are powerless!” he wrote earlier on Monday.