By Kristina Peterson, Natalie Andrews and Siobhan Hughes
WASHINGTON -- Lawmakers worked Sunday to break the impasse that
had extended the federal government shutdown into a second day, in
an effort to prevent it from hardening into a prolonged standoff
expected to be increasingly difficult to resolve.
A group of centrist senators from both parties huddled in an
attempt to chart a course out of the stalemate. As the hours
passed, pressure mounted on both parties, with lawmakers aware that
the shutdown's effects would expand as the workweek began,
including potential furloughs for tens of thousands of federal
employees.
Without an agreement Sunday night, a blame game that Democrats
and Republicans carried on all weekend was likely to intensify,
lawmakers said.
"I am really worried about where this thing goes because it's
going to get nastier in terms of rhetoric," said Sen. Lindsey
Graham (R., S.C.), predicting it would hit both parties. "First
prize in a government shutdown is you get to be dumb, not dumber.
That's the best you can hope for."
Democrats, who control enough votes in the Senate to block
legislation funding the government, have attempted to use their
leverage to force an agreement to shield the Dreamers, whose legal
protections expire March 5 under President Donald Trump's decision
to end a program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or
DACA.
Republicans say Democrats have made basic government operations
contingent on helping a small slice of American residents and have
insisted that Democrats yield out of a sense of responsibility to
the broader population.
The bipartisan group of senators said they were hoping to reach
an agreement on a framework that would lock the Senate into voting
on an immigration bill in early February, as part of a deal to
reopen the government.
"Then we have to have in our own mind some way to assure that
the House feels the need to bring up the issue as well," said Sen.
Dick Durbin (D., Ill.)
But GOP leaders appeared reluctant to commit to any steps that
would tie the hands of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R.,
Ky.).
"Turning the agenda over to Democrats who just shut down the
government makes no sense to me. It just seems like it encourages
bad behavior," Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R., Texas) told
reporters. "I think the leader needs the flexibility to figure out
timing and vehicle" of any vote on an immigration bill, he
said.
Mr. McConnell spoke with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer
(D., N.Y.) off the Senate floor late Sunday afternoon and aides
expected them to continue discussions.
The GOP has been pushing to reopen the government with a
three-week spending bill, but Democrats haven't agreed to that
without a path forward for the Dreamers. Mr. Schumer said he made
significant concessions to Mr. Trump, including offering funding to
build a wall along the border with Mexico, but that the president
rejected it.
"The president must take yes for an answer," Mr. Schumer said on
the Senate floor, urging Republicans to find a compromise with
Democrats. "A party that controls the House, the Senate and the
presidency would rather sit back and point fingers of blame than
roll up their sleeves and govern."
The White House disputed Mr. Schumer's account.
"Sen. Schumer's memory is hazy because his account of Friday's
meeting is false," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said
Sunday. "And the president's position is clear: We will not
negotiate on the status of unlawful immigrants while Sen. Schumer
and the Democrats hold the government for millions of Americans and
our troops hostage."
On Sunday, much of the Senate activity centered on the
bipartisan group of senators working to come up with a compromise.
Mr. Graham said Mr. McConnell had made clear that immigration would
be among the issues they would consider when the government is
reopened. But Mr. Graham said he was hoping to get a pledge from
Mr. McConnell that he would bring an immigration bill to the Senate
floor in early February, if it hasn't already been resolved.
"I think that would be enough for a lot of people," Mr. Graham
told reporters.
Mr. McConnell had previously said he would bring up immigration
legislation only if it had Mr. Trump's support. But GOP senators
said Saturday he had told them he would be willing to bring up an
immigration bill even without Mr. Trump's endorsement.
Mr. Trump so far hasn't endorsed any specific legislation on the
Dreamers, complicating a debate that was difficult even before his
presidency.
Mr. McConnell threatened to hold the next procedural vote on the
three-week spending bill at 1 a.m. Monday, but lawmakers could
reach a unanimous agreement to hold it earlier, or at a later hour
Monday.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump spoke with House Majority Leader Kevin
McCarthy (R., Calif.) and Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Sanders said. If the
Senate passes the three-week spending bill, it is expected to clear
the House, lawmakers said.
Mr. Trump tweeted on Sunday morning his support for the
Republicans' position and suggested the Senate change its rules if
they can't reach an agreement with Democrats.
"Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military
and Safety at the Border. The Dems just want illegal immigrants to
pour into our nation unchecked," Mr. Trump said in a tweet early
Sunday. "If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51%
(Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.'s!" he
said, referring to a continuing resolution, a stopgap spending
bill.
Spending bills need 60 votes to clear procedural hurdles in the
Senate, where Republicans hold 51 seats. Mr. Trump urged
Republicans to change the chamber's rules so that spending bills
could pass with just a simple majority.
But Senate Republicans have resisted that idea in the past, not
wanting to eliminate the minority party's most important source of
leverage. A spokesman for Mr. McConnell said Sunday morning that
hadn't changed.
Mr. McConnell himself said Sunday he supported the current
rules.
"I support that right from an institutional point of view, but
the question is when do you use it," he said.
Although the Senate has changed its rules to approve nominees
with just a simple majority, most senators believe lowering the
threshold for legislation would erase what distinguishes the Senate
from the House, a dynamic that has long forced senators to try to
reach bipartisan compromises.
--Michael C. Bender, Kate Davidson, Bob Davis and Peter Nicholas
contributed to this article.
Write to Kristina Peterson at kristina.peterson@wsj.com, Natalie
Andrews at Natalie.Andrews@wsj.com and Siobhan Hughes at
siobhan.hughes@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 21, 2018 19:33 ET (00:33 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.