Republican congressional leaders sought Wednesday to persuade President Donald Trump not to shut down the government over funding for his border wall right before the midterm elections.Trump repeated threats his threats Wednesday. "If it happens it happens. If it's about border security, I'm willing to do anything. We have to protect our borders. ... I'm willing to do what has to be done," he said.
But after he and other Republican leaders met at the White House with Trump, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told Fox News he saw "zero" possibility of a shutdown. "No chance of a government shutdown," he said.
The government runs out of money Sept. 30 at the end of the nation's fiscal year. Lawmakers in both chambers have been passing appropriations bills in small clusters to get funding locked in for as many agencies as possible. Then they hope to pass a short-term funding bill – known as a continuing resolution – to keep the leftover agencies funded at the current level while they continue to hammer out a solution.
That strategy could avoid a partial government closure just before Nov. 6, when Republicans face a tough electoral battle to hold their majority control of the House and hope to expand their narrow Senate majority.
But after he and other Republican leaders met at the White House with Trump, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told Fox News he saw "zero" possibility of a shutdown. "No chance of a government shutdown," he said.
The government runs out of money Sept. 30 at the end of the nation's fiscal year. Lawmakers in both chambers have been passing appropriations bills in small clusters to get funding locked in for as many agencies as possible. Then they hope to pass a short-term funding bill – known as a continuing resolution – to keep the leftover agencies funded at the current level while they continue to hammer out a solution.
That strategy could avoid a partial government closure just before Nov. 6, when Republicans face a tough electoral battle to hold their majority control of the House and hope to expand their narrow Senate majority.
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