WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd December, 2018) The US Senate has voted to proceed with the House of Representatives-passed short-term spending bill in an attempt to avert a partial government shutdown at midnight.
The Senate voted 48-47 to proceed with the continuing resolution. US Vice President Mike Pence provided the tie-breaking vote to advance the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took the floor after the vote to express hope Democrats will work with the White House on a proposal that can pass both chambers and receive the signature of President Donald Trump.
"When the agreement is reached, it will receive the vote here on the Senate floor," McConnell said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer reminded that the wall funding does not have 60 supporters in the upper house. However, Democrats have their proposals to keep the government open and are willing to continue discussions with the Trump administration to agree on the best version of the bill.
Senator Bob Corker commented on the vote by saying that Republicans and Democrats will hold negotiations to avoid the shutdown. He did not rule out a possibility of a brief shutdown.
On Wednesday, the US Senate passed a continuing resolution, but then on Thursday the House of Representatives passed a bill with 5 billion border wall funding.
Most Democrats in the Senate, along with some Republicans are opposed to adding the funding for Trump's border wall to the resolution.
