U.S. government is back in business
Wary Dems agree to end shutdown
Washington — After three days of contentious negotiations and name-calling, Congress voted to end a government shutdown Monday when Democrats agreed to trust the word of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
President Donald Trump signed the spending bill Monday evening.
The impact of the shutdown, which began at midnight Friday, was minimal, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal workers unsure of what the week would bring — but apparently stretching into just one workday.
Lawmakers agreed to fund the government through Feb. 8 after McConnell, R-Ky., promised to address the status of young immigrants called “dreamers” who were brought to this country illegally as children.
“Nobody trusts anybody around here. And most Americans don’t trust any of us.” SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, R-S.C. “I don’t understand how things get any better. At some point, people have to say enough is enough.” U.S. SEN. CHRIS MURPHY, D-CONN.
The pact came at a time when trust has been in short supply on Capitol Hill — and it unnerved liberal activists who aren’t sure McConnell will fulfill his promise.
McConnell delivered a carefully worded speech on the Senate floor, stating that it was his “intention” to address the dreamer issue, whether in the next spending bill or thereafter. He did not offer a specific promise to protect dreamers, and he suggested he would offer nothing if government shuts down again, but he said he would follow an evenhanded process.
Even if such a bill passed the Senate, it remained entirely unclear Monday how it would fare in the more conservative House.
But it was enough for 33 Senate Democrats, who joined 48 Republicans to break an impasse that cleared the way for federal agencies to reopen late Monday.
“‘Trust but verify’ is my motto,” said Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats. “He’s made this commitment publicly, he made it on the floor of the Senate. He was much more specific this morning than he was last night, and frankly this is an important opportunity for him to demonstrate that he will carry through.”
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., also endorsed the plan, which also reauthorizes the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years and rolls back several health care taxes. On Monday evening, the House quickly passed it, sending it to Trump for his signature.
“I am pleased that Democrats in Congress have come to their senses,” Trump said in a statement. He vowed to “work toward solving the problem of very unfair illegal immigration.”
But for some Democrats, including senators, the day brought an unsatisfying conclusion to a risky gambit to force Republicans to help protect dreamers, whose futures were cast into doubt when Trump canceled an Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
Some Democrats argued that McConnell offered no new concessions on immigration. Others regretted giving up the leverage they believed they had in the government spending talks. Others said they simply don’t trust him — or his party — to follow through.
“He did not make a commitment,” said Sen. Kamala Harris, Calif., one 16 Democrats who voted to block the bill.