Incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced the Democrats' plans to bring forward legislation on Thursday to reopen the federal government.
Nancy Pelosi: "Tomorrow we will bring to the floor legislation that will open up government. It will be based on actions taken by the Republican Senate, bills that have passed on the floor of the senate by over 90 votes or in committee unanimously." https://t.co/s2toAN0LDw pic.twitter.com/TUlvluJFLx
— The Hill (@thehill) January 3, 2019
While Pelosi seems optimistic about the bill, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said fully opening the federal government is a "total non-starter" and won't be taken up by the Senate.
Senate Republican leader McConnell says Senate will not consider legislation expected to be introduced by House Democrats to end shutdown pic.twitter.com/JKqZaM6VjX
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) January 3, 2019
McConnell used the opportunity to blast Democrats for their political postering.
McConnell speaks on Senate floor on 12th day of partial shutdown: "We're not interested in having show votes here in the Senate. We're interested in bringing up something the House has passed, 60 senators will support, and the president will sign" https://t.co/kUtOArXNcu pic.twitter.com/Bxpr1DHdOv
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 3, 2019
"It's exactly the kind of proposal you'd expect if the incoming House Democrats are choosing to stage a political side show rather than doing the hard work of helping govern the country. In other words a total non-starter," McConnell said on the Senate floor.
For Republicans, the Pelosi bill is a waste of time and does nothing to strengthen America's national security.
“The Senate will not waste its time considering a Democratic bill which cannot pass this chamber and which the president will not sign,” McConnell said.
Democrats are hoping that reopening the government, even on a short-term basis, would allow negotiations over Trump's proposed border wall funding to continue.
The Pelosi bill would fund the Department of Homeland Security until Feb. 8. Another bill would fund the other eight government agencies, The Washington Examiner reported. They have said their bills will not including funding for the border wall.