A funding package failed to reach the 60 votes it needed to pass a Senate procedural vote on Thursday. Congress has until Saturday to reach a consensus on funding or the government will enter a partial shutdown.
The main issue with the package is funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats are threatening to derail the bills unless the DHS funding includes new guardrails for immigration enforcement.
The House of Representatives passed the funding bills last week, with seven Democrats in the lower chamber agreeing with nearly all Republicans. Any changes to the legislation in the Senate would require a House vote to concur.
The House is in recess, and its leaders have not said whether representatives would return to vote on any changes before a partial shutdown began after midnight Friday.
Why are Democrats fighting DHS funding?
After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal agents in Minnesota, Democrats demanded changes to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement.
Democratic leaders said they want to “overhaul” Immigration and Customs Enforcement to “ensure the public’s safety.” Democrats want to ban roving ICE patrols, require a warrant signed by a judge before officers forcibly enter private property and “enforce accountability” by creating a universal code of conduct that governs when federal agents can use force.
They have also proposed banning ICE officers from wearing masks and requiring them to wear body cameras and proper identification, according to The Hill.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has demanded Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., separate a DHS funding bill from the budget package. If that happens, Schumer said, Democrats would pass the other five spending proposals and prevent a shutdown.
The post Funding package fails to pass key vote over dispute on DHS funding appeared first on Straight Arrow News.