Partial Government Shutdown Continues
Today is the 20th day of the partial government shutdown. Approximately 800,000 federal employees remain furloughed or are working without pay. Despite an Oval Office address by President Trump on Tuesday about the importance of a border wall with Mexico, Congressional Democrats remain adamantly opposed to any deal that includes funding for the wall. House Democrats have passed a number of bills this week designed to open up parts of the Federal government, while not providing any funds for the wall. While Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said that his chamber will not vote on any legislation that does not have the backing of the President, several Senate Republicans, including Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), have called for an end to the shutdown, even if that means no funding for a border wall with Mexico.