‘OPEN’ MINDS PREVAIL
the dropped funding GOP tion portation. Mitch issue enough Congress Republican government reform leaders in McConnell’s Democrats bill their the to on in that protect return coming objections Senate Monday after they’ll promise to for Dreamers Senate support weeks Majority take raced assurances to to a up Democrats temporary to prompted tackle a immigra- from stopgap reopen Leader from de- the spending eral passed The The government measure legislation 81-18 measure later with running needed cleared that Democratic will until the 60 keep House votes, Feb. support. the 8. 266- fed- and 150 Monday ment and to was evening, return signed to in normal by time President for on the Tuesday govern- Trump morning. here,” “I’m glad said we McConnell, can finally who get back blasted to work the three-day and “manufactured shutdown crisis.” as an “irresponsible”
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer lent his backing to the agreement in a speech on the chamber’s floor.
“Now there is a real pathway to get a bill on the floor and through the Senate,” he said of legislation to halt any deportation efforts aimed at Dreamers, who were brought to the country illegally as children and had been protected from deportation by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program before Trump decided to end it.
Trump praised Congress for its action, but stopped short of promising to support lawmakers’ expected bipartisan deal on immigration reform.
“I am pleased Democrats in Congress have come to their senses and are now willing to fund our great military, border patrol, first responders and insurance for vulnerable children,” the president said in a statement. “As I have said, once the government is funded, my administration will work toward solving the problem of very unfair long-term for Huckabee ocrats White “I’m the achieved illegal not country.” House deal Sanders sure immigration. on in what Press immigration the questioned stalemate. [Schumer] Secretary We’ll what if it make is gained Sarah Dem- good a other [Democratic] their shutdown,” than Nancy members the Pelosi spokeswoman taking out to a celebrate bunch said. of “I’m out of not this sure weekend what for positive Democrats.” things came sands The of shutdown federal workers meant hundreds were furloughed, of thoufederal contractors faced stop-work orders and visitors were kept out of national parks and forests. The timing was tough for John-Michael Elmore and his wife, Tara, who embarked on a road trip to all 50 states in a former newspaper delivery van and had largely been staying on the cheap in national parks. “The ranger informed us at 7 a.m. they were going to have to lock the gates up and have everyone leave,” Elmore said after getting booted from the Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi. “It was certainly an inconvenience.” In a pinch, they slept in a 24-hour parking lot. “We pulled into the nearest Walmart,” Elmore told The Post. In Washington, DC, bars, gyms and even a meditation center offered steep shutdown specials to government employees concerned over their next paychecks. “We’re hoping we can offer a little oasis for them,” Tara Huber, co-founder of Take Five Meditation, said of the 50-percent discount the business was offering for stressed-out federal employees. It’s unclear how much of an economic impact the short-lived shutdown will have on the otherwise healthy economy. In 2013, a 16-day shutdown cost the economy $24 billion,, accordingg to Standard&Poor’s.