Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell held firm Thursday against yet another attempt by his Democrat colleagues to prematurely end the ongoing government shutdown without first resolving any of the underlying border security issues at play.
“Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) tried to get consent [from McConnell] to take up a House-passed bill that would reopen all agencies except the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is at the center of the shutdown fight,” The Hill reported. “But McConnell objected.”
Watch what happened below:
The Hill notes that this marked the third time in only two weeks that the Senate majority leader had stood firm against Democrat attempts to prematurely end the ongoing government shutdown.
The second attempt reportedly happened Tuesday, when he blocked both a House bill that would’ve reopened the entire government except for the Department of Homeland Security and an add-on bill that would’ve reopened DHS as well but only through Feb. 8.
“The solution to this is a negotiation between the one person in the country who can sign something into law, the president of the United States, and our Democratic colleagues,” he said Tuesday, arguing Democrats should be negotiating with President Donald Trump, not trying to circumvent him.
“Here in the Senate, my Democratic colleagues have an important choice to make. They could stand with common sense border experts, with federal workers, and with their own past voting records, by the way, or they could continue to remain passive spectators complaining from the sidelines, as the [House] speaker refuses to negotiate with the White House.”
Stand strong Mitch
— Kathy Dellert (@KathyDellert) January 17, 2019
Stand strong @senatemajldr … These democrats need to learn how government works. #time2negotiate #lyingliberals #PelosiShutdown #democratshutdown #fundthewall
— angryCitizenUSA (@usa_angry) January 17, 2019
Stand strong, don’t back down until Dems agree to fund the wall- Americans need to be protected!
— StrongMermaid???♀️? (@HullTmb) January 17, 2019
Thank you, @senatemajldr , please continue to stand strong for our security! God bless you!
— USAHeart⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@usaheart) January 17, 2019
Don’t cave!You finally have a President that will stand strong!He has a backbone,the Republicans can grow one too. For so many years the republicans have been spineless but now you can lean on the President. In the past (since Reagan) that would stand up to the Democratic. Do it!
— Vickie Vaughan (@VickieVaughan19) January 17, 2019
The events of Thursday likewise marked the second time that failed Democrat vice presidential nominee Sen. Tim Kaine had sought to interfere with the Senate’s regular activities.
On Wednesday he issued a statement to Politico expressing opposition to the Senate’s plans to adjourn over the upcoming weekend in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“My people are suffering … and what? People want to take the weekend off and people are too afraid to go on the board? Go on the board. If you want to vote against funding the government, fine. Put your name on it,” Kaine told Politico.
I gotta say, trying to take a long weekend off while our people all around the country are suffering… it’s intolerable. You want to go home? Vote!
We can reopen the government *right now* and fix this mess.
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) January 16, 2019
He doubled down on this Thursday, saying when asked about the Senate’s plans, “We’re going to be in for sessions for Friday, Saturday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.”
As of Friday, it remains unclear if the Senate will indeed be in session during the weekend.
Tim, it’s MLK Jr. Day. Give the man his due.
— Frank Borman (@BOR1stA) January 17, 2019
What’s known without a shadow of a doubt is that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — whose intransigence (coupled with that of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer) is responsible for what has become the longest shutdown in U.S. history — will most certainly be in town.
Shortly before she and a delegation of congressional Democrats were on Thursday set to depart on a trip to Afghanistan, the president reportedly “grounded” her by postponing her trip.
“Due to the Shutdown, I am sorry to inform you that your trip to Brussels, Egypt, and Afghanistan has been postponed. We will reschedule this seven-day excursion when the Shutdown is over. In light of the 800,000 great American workers not receiving pay, I am sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate,” he said in a statement.
President @realDonaldTrump’s letter to @SpeakerPelosi concerning her upcoming travel pic.twitter.com/TtBCvwp080
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 17, 2019
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.
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