
Schumer calls for Senate to pass stopgap bill by week's end to avoid 'even hint of a government shutdown'
CNN
Lawmakers will try and pass a short-term government funding extension by a Friday deadline, but a handful of Republican senators is threatening to gum up the works, raising questions about when the Senate will actually be able to vote.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned on Tuesday that "before the end of the week, the Senate must come to an agreement to pass a short-term extension of government funding," ahead of the February 18 deadline.
He reiterated that he remains "optimistic" that Democrats and Republicans will keep working together to reach a deal and pass a broader, full-year government spending package. But "in the meantime, both sides should come to an agreement to make sure ... the continuing resolution, the short-term funding of the government, is passed by this chamber and avoid any even hint of a government shutdown," he said.

Janet Mills and her allies are counting on a gender gap to narrow Platner’s wide lead ahead of the June 9 primary to decide who will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. They are betting that the unfiltered style that has brought Platner widespread attention as someone who could help Democrats reach young men will backfire with women.

As a shrinking number of Transportation Security Administration agents work to keep hourslong security lines moving despite not being paid, President Donald Trump stepped into the fray Saturday, announcing he will send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports by Monday if Congress doesn’t agree to a plan to end the partial government shutdown.











