With one day left before a government shutdown, Senate Democrats are starting to name their price for supporting a GOP government funding bill: a vote on a short-term extension.
One scenario in particular is gathering legislative momentum: Republicans give Democrats a vote on a 30-day continuing resolution — likely as an amendment to the GOP bill, which would fund the government through Sept. 30 — the amendment fails, and then a handful of Democrats join Republicans to support advancing the larger GOP funding bill.
“If they want to vote on that in exchange for getting us the votes to pass to Sept. 30, I think we’re open to that,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Thursday morning. “But as you all know, the House is gone. So whatever happens is going to have to be the final action.”