A partial government shutdown at midnight ET is a sure thing since the House has adjourned until noon Saturday.
The Senate got to work just after noon on Friday to vote on a bill that passed the House Thursday night 217-185 which included $5 billion in border wall funding.
McConnell rejected using the nuclear option to pass the bill with 51 votes because he didn’t have enough support to change the Senate rule which currently requires 60 votes.
The Senate advanced the vote to the floor Friday evening, however negotiations on a new package including all seven appropriations bills is still ongoing.
President Trump dug in his heels and refused to sign the bill unless it give him the border wall funding he asked for.
Earlier Friday, the President blamed the Democrats for the impending shut down in a tweet.
Partial government shutdown assured at midnight et because the House has adjourned until noon et Saturday. Negotiations continue behind the scenes. But there is no bill which can move through the Hse tonight. Hse GOP says they would give mbrs 24 notice ahead of votes.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 22, 2018
Negotiations continue behind the scenes.
A shutdown is assured because there is no bill to fund parts of the government beyond 11:59:59 pm et tonight & the Hse is out. Negotiations continue behind the scenes. But nothing can move through the House.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 22, 2018
McConnell told reporters as he was leaving the Capitol that constructive talks are under way.
Senator Flake said: The House bill is dead and the agreement we have, is that the reason we wanted it to proceed is to keep the vehicle alive for negotiations.
From colleague Caroline McKee. Flake: Most of the conversation today has been in process and not the negotiations themselves..The House bill is dead. And the agreement we have, is that the reason we wanted it to proceed is to keep the vehicle alive for negotiations.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 22, 2018
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