Colorado Republican Sen. Cory Gardner became the first to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to end the government shutdown over President Donald Trump's demand for funding a southern border wall on Friday, according to Newsweek.
The ongoing shutdown entered its 14th day after Democrats in the House of Representatives voted on a plan that would reopen the Department of Homeland Security through early February and the rest of the shuttered federal government through the end of September.
For weeks McConnell has claimed the decision is up to Democrats and President Trump to negotiate a compromise to end the government, but as Trump continues to staunchly defend his side, the Senate leader is facing more pressure from within his own party to send a bill to the White House.
Both Trump and McConnell has been attempting to cast the Democrats to blame for 800,000 federal workers being furloughed or working without pay, but since Republicans are facing an uphill battle in 2020, more and more are speaking out against the unnecessary shutdown.
“I think we should pass a continuing resolution to get the government back open,” Sen. Gardner told The Hill newspaper. “The Senate has done it last Congress, we should do it again today.”
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, another vulnerable Republican, said she would also support separating the funding for DHS and other bipartisan appropriations bills already approved in committee.
But so far McConnell has refused to take up the Democrats' measures.
“It would be great to have them signed into law because there is not great controversy over them, and at least we’d be getting those workers back to work,” Sen. Collins said.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) also said she would like to see the shutdown impasse "resolved soon."
But McConnell has repeatedly said the Sante would not take up any legislation "that does not have a real chance of passing this chamber and getting a presidential signature."
“Let’s not waste the time. Let’s not get off on the wrong foot, with House Democrats using their new platform to produce political statements rather than serious solutions.”
McConnell has a new role standing opposite of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has promised to provide an important check on the Trump administration, but still said she would "reach across the aisle in this chamber" to pass legislation on protections for young undocumented immigrants and gun control.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader in the Senate, also called on McConnell to join the talks with Trump to end the shutdown.
“The power to end the shutdown is in two people’s hands: Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell,” Schumer said on Thursday. “Either one of them could end the shutdown. They both should try.”
Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate Minority Whip from Illinois, said McConnell's approach should change once more Republicans realize the risk of standing behind Trump on the issue.
“He faces that reality now on every issue: What’s the White House going to do with this?” said Durbin.
-WN.com, Maureen Foody
Photo:
AP / J. Scott Applewhite
