House still lacks deal to avoid partial shutdown
Schumer g a v e no indications WASHINGTON — With just there was days until funding runs out any movefor part of the federal govment, espeernment, House GOP lead- cially on the ers said no votes would be border wall scheduled until at least next funding. Wednesday, with no indi“Right cations of any active nego- now, Chuck and I are not tiations or solutions to the in a negotiation; we’re not demand by President Dongoing for the $5 billion for the ald Trump that he get $5 bil- wall — we simply are not,” lion for his border wall in a Pelosi told reporters. year-end legislative spendDespite some talk about ing package. holding a vote on the pres-
“Our schedule for next ident’s plan, House Repub- week remains fluid and sublicans gave no indication ject to change,” said House that they would bring the $5 Majority Leader Rep. Kevin billion border wall up for a McCarthy, R-Calif. “Convervote on the floor, as many on sations are currently ongoCapitol Hill believe the GOP ing between the House, Sendoes not have the votes to ate and the White House.” get that through the House.
But Democratic leaders “They do not have the Nancy Pelosi and Chuck votes to pass the president’s proposal,” Pelosi said of the $5 billion wall plan.
If nothing happens by Dec. 21, then a portion of the federal government would go into shutdown mode — agen- cies like NASA, the Justice Department, Homeland Security, Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency and more.
Most of the government funding for 2019 has already been approved, so a funding lapse would not impact the military; Congress; Veterans Affairs; energy and water programs; military construction; or health, education and labor programs.
If Republicans were able to get the House to approve the $5 billion border wall plan, then the president might have more leverage — but with questions as to whether it can gain a majority in either the House or Senate, Democrats seem ready to stand in opposition.
Earlier last week in an unusual public spat in the Oval Office, Trump told Democratic leaders that he would happily take the blame for any funding lapse.
“I am proud to shut down the government for border security,” the president said.
politics editor. Follow him on Twitter at @OhioPoliticsEd. Email news tips to anthony. shoemaker@coxinc. com.
■
Statehouse bureau reporter. Follow her on Twitter at @lbischoff. Like her Laura Bischoff DDN Facebook page. Send news tips to laura.bischoff@coxinc. com.
■ political/ investigative reporter for Newscenter 7. Follow him on Twitter at @JOtteWHIO. Like his Jim Otte WHIO Facebook page.
■
Washington Bureau reporter. Follow him on Twitter at @JackTorry1.
■
Washington Bureau reporter. Follow her on Twitter at @JessicaWehrman.
■
Washington Insider. Follow him on Twitter at @JamieDupree.