WASHINGTON, D.C. – One of Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senators is calling for a compromise to end the now 34-day partial government shutdown. Republican U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa) says the obvious, necessary resolution is a compromise.
He says Thursday’s votes demonstrate neither President Donald Trump’s proposal nor the Democrat proposal have enough support to pass Congress. Toomey says there is a deal that improves border security, including physical barriers where they make sense, and delivers on some Democrat priorities. See Senator Toomey’s full statement at WKOK.com.
Thursday, two competing bills were blocked by the Senate. The president’s plan to end the shutdown was blocked by a 50-47 vote. The Democrat proposal was blocked by a 52-44 vote that would’ve opened the government through Feb.8. 60 votes are needed for a bill to pass the Senate.
U.S. Senator Pat Toomey full statement:
“I hope today’s votes represent modest progress toward ending this partial government shutdown. These votes demonstrate that neither the president’s proposal nor the Democrat proposal have enough support to pass Congress. As I have said all along, the obvious, necessary resolution is a compromise.
“I am willing to compromise. In a compromise, neither side gets everything they want and both sides get something they want. There is a deal to be had here that improves border security – including physical barriers where they make sense – and delivers on some Democrat priorities, too. Speaker Pelosi has, thus far, refused to negotiate and my Democratic colleagues, just today, went so far as to block efforts to pay Coast Guard members and other federal employees who have been working without pay. I hope today’s votes will bring Speaker Pelosi and Democrats to the table so there is an agreement that reopens the government, secures the border, and allows federal employees to return to work with pay.”
