US Senate defeats bills to reopen government

The partial shutdown of the US government moved into its 35th day on Friday after the US Senate voted down two bills to reopen the government.

The two votes on Thursday marked the first time the Senate has formally moved on government funding since the shutdown began on Dec 22.

Despite the bills' defeat, some lawmakers expressed hope that the attempt to end the stalemate could lead to talks about a compromise.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer met for about 30 minutes after the votes. Schumer left the meeting smiling and said: "We're talking."

Meanwhile, CNN.com, in a story published Thursday that it labeled exclusive, reported that the White House is preparing a draft proclamation for US President Donald Trump to declare a national emergency along the southern border and has identified more than $7 billion in potential funds for a border wall. CNN said it had reviewed internal documents.

Options being considered are taking $681 million from Treasury forfeiture funds, $3.6 billion from military construction, $3 billion in Pentagon civil works funds, and $200 million in Department of Homeland Security funds, CNN reported, citing a government official.

House Democrats reportedly are preparing a counteroffer to Trump that would provide at least $5 billion in border security, but no new funding for the wall he is demanding at the border with Mexico.

Democrats who left a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday declined to provide details of the proposal. But Jim Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina, said he's confident a Democratic counteroffer will be a starting point for serious talks with the president once the government is reopened.

"I maintain hope that people will come to their senses real soon. And I'm very confident that the proposals we're putting forward will gain traction and will become a significant part of whatever the negotiations are going forward," Clyburn said. "We won't get 100 percent of what we want, and we want the president to understand he won't get 100 percent of what he wants."

Both Senate measures needed 60 votes for passage on Thursday. Senate Democrats blocked a White House-backed plan to end the shutdown by a 51-47 vote. It included money for the border wall and other immigration provisions.

Republicans then defeated by a 52-44 vote the Democrats' proposal for a continuing resolution that would have authorized funds to reopen the government through Feb 8.

Both sides watched the vote count closely to see how many members would break with their parties. One Democrat voted for the Republican bill, and in a surprise, two Republicans voted against it. Six Republicans broke ranks and voted for the Democrats' proposal.

When asked about the Republican defections on the continuing resolution bill, Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, said that members are "frustrated and want to do everything they can do move the process forward".

"I think it certainly puts everybody on record, and if nothing else, I would hope at least that this would get the conversation going again," he said.

"Is this the beginning of the end, or is it just the end of the beginning? We shall find out," said Senator Richard Shelby, Republican

of Alabama.

Friday marks the second consecutive payday this month when 800,000 federal workers either furloughed or forced to work without pay will miss a paycheck.

The number of federal employees applying for unemployment insurance has surged, according to a Labor Department report.

Federal civilian employees filed 25,419 initial jobless claims in the week ending Jan 12, about 15,000 more than the previous week. The 143 percent jump came around the time that the shutdown became the longest in US history.

Earlier Thursday, Trump had tweeted: "Without a Wall there cannot be safety and security at the Border or for the U.S.A.," he said in a tweet. "BUILD THE WALL AND CRIME WILL FALL!"

Pelosi told reporters on Thursday, "They know full well that we're here. It's the president of the United States. We'd meet with him anytime he wants to meet."

Polls are showing the public is blaming Trump for the continuing shutdown.

An Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Wednesday found that 60 percent of those surveyed blame Trump for the funding lapse.

A CBS News poll released on Wednesday showed Trump with 36 percent approval rating, his lowest of all polls this month. Additionally, 71 percent of Americans said that building a wall along the border with Mexico isn't worth shutting down the government, and 61 percent said the border can be secured without building a wall.