The funding deadline is fast approaching and Congress needs to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) by midnight tonight in order to avoid a government shutdown. Republican leadership will attempt to force a stopgap spending measure through the House and Senate without a DACA deal that Democrats are demanding. House Republicans passed a CR on Thursday night but the bill remains in question in the Senate, where Democrats are withholding votes.
Republicans need at least 10 Democratic votes to pass the CR and all signs indicate Republican leadership is struggling to pick-up the necessary votes. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) told reporters an “overwhelming” number of Democratic senators will oppose the bill without a DACA fix and Republicans might face dissent within their own ranks. Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) voted against the last stopgap bill and are perennial headaches for leadership. In addition, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) have said they will vote against the House bill because successive short-term spending measures are crippling the military. Republicans will not be able to count on Senator John McCain’s (R-Arizona) vote either; as he is in recovery for his cancer treatment. With another thin margin for error ahead of him, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has prepared contingency plans in the event of a shutdown.