Short-term spending bill plan gains steam ahead of shutdown deadline

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill looking to avert a partial government shutdown starting Saturday are warming to the possibility of passing a short-term, stopgap spending measure.

“I think one’s looming on the horizon right now,” said Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), referring to a potential short-term continuing resolution that would maintain current spending levels for government agencies funded by the seven spending bills Congress has not passed.

While most initial disagreements over the seven bills have been resolved, the major exception has been President Trump’s demand for $5 billion in funding for a border wall in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spending bill. Democrats have offered to pass a continuing resolution for DHS, which would renew some $1.3 billion in funds for fencing, through the end of the 2019 fiscal year, Sept. 30.

{mosads}The White House on Tuesday seemed to back down from Trump’s earlier promise that he would “proudly” shut down the government, saying the president would be able to cobble together wall funding from other parts of the government.

Democrats rejected a GOP offer to revive the Senate version of the 2019 DHS bill, which included $1.6 billion for fencing in the Rio Grande Valley, and add an additional $1 billion that Trump could use for his immigration priorities.

With those developments, many in Congress, such as Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), say a shutdown is off the table, and that a shorter extension is likely in the absence of a comprehensive deal.

“That’s my guess,” he said.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who’s poised to become Speaker next month, said a short-term continuing resolution (CR) might break the logjam. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) agreed.

“If Leader McConnell puts a short-term CR on the table, it’s something we’d very seriously consider,” Schumer said.

Outgoing Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Tuesday that the prospects of a shutdown have faded significantly.

“I’m betting we’re out by Thursday,” she said.

GOP leadership would prefer to pass all seven remaining spending bills and avoid another shutdown fight next year, when Democrats will control the House.

“I think we’re kind of at an impasse, and the question is, then, is the fallback a CR?” said Sen. John Thune (R-S.D). “It’s a possibility. Last resort, obviously.”

With only a few days until Friday’s midnight deadline and a decreasing appetite for a shutdown, an alternative to a CR is becoming increasingly unlikely.

“Three legislative days,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) lamented, counting off the remaining weekdays on her fingers. “If these were dog years we’d have a lot of time to work this through.”