Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Tuesday that the Senate is scheduled to vote Thursday afternoon on two competing bills that aim to re-open the federal government.
The vote will mark the first time the Senate will take action to end the shutdown since it began on Dec. 22, but both pieces of legislation are expected to fail. McConnell announced Tuesday that the Senate hold a vote on a proposal made by President Donald Trump over the weekend that would re-open the government in exchange for $5.7 billion in border wall funding and temporary protection for some immigrants brought to the country illegally. The measure, which the president unveiled on Saturday, needs the support of 60 senators to advance to a final vote, and would require votes from 7 Senate Democrats, which is unlikely.
Today marks the 33rd day of the partial government shutdown.
