Democrats to push for short-term reopening of govt.
The United States House of Representatives, dominated by Democrats, seeks to push two continuing resolutions (CRs) to temporarily reopen the government as shutdown over disputed border wall budget enters its 25th day.
House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey introduced two measures on Monday, the first of which seeks to provide funding for government bodies until February 1st and a second motion for funding until February 28th.
“These two new Continuing Resolutions offer President Trump and Senate Republicans additional options to end the shutdown while allowing time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy," said Lowey.
House Democrats passed similar bills earlier this month. The Republican dominated Senate has, nonetheless, blocked all of them.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has vowed not to propose any funding which US President Donald Trump won't sign.
“Let’s not get off on the wrong foot, with House Democrats using their new platform to produce political statements rather than serious solutions,” said McConnell previously.
Earlier this week, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham advised the president to temporarily reopen the government before possibly using emergency powers to fund his proposed border wall.
Trump, however, rejected the request.
The government was partially shut down after Congress refused to approve a $5 billion budget for Trump's southern border wall.
Trump made the wall a key election campaign promise in 2016, saying Mexico would pay for it and claiming that it was needed to combat illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
Democrats have time and time again rejected the border wall, calling it immoral, ineffective and medieval.
The shutdown has forced around 800,000 federal workers to work without pay or be furloughed. Negotiations with Democratic congressional representatives have so far failed.
Visiting the southern border last week, Trump repeated that he may use emergency powers if negotiations fail to produce any convincing results.
Doing so would empower the president to allocate funds for the project without Congress's approval.
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