UPDATE – The letter has been released. Here are some of the Republicans who are turning on Trump and are collaborating with Democrats to end the shutdown without securing the border wall: “Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Rob Portman of Ohio.”
The final list of signers hasn’t been released yet. Here is a portion of the letter: “We will make our best efforts following regular order in the appropriate committees and mark up bipartisan legislation relating to your request. This would include debating and voting on investments on the Southern border that are necessary, effective, and appropriate to accomplish that goal.”
A bipartisan group of senators plan to send a letter to POTUS today requesting he support a short-term CR that will reopen the gov for 3 wks while they continue negotiations. @Axios was leaked draft text of the letter, which was first pubbed by @politico https://t.co/rSmySNjlDs
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) January 16, 2019
Original article:
A number of Senate Republicans have signed on to a letter that urges President Trump to end the shutdown but continue negotiating for a border wall.
Senate Republicans start to give in
The letter, which is set to be released later today, has been drafted by a bipartisan group of senators. Up until this point, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has largely held his caucus together, despite facing overwhelming pressure to pass spending bills to reopen the government that have already been approved by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives. (RELATED: Will Senate Republicans Give in on Government Shutdown?)
McConnell has dug in his heels up until this point. (RELATED: McConnell Says No Time Off For Senators Until Shutdown Ends.) But, it looks like some Republican senators are tired of the negative publicity generated by the shutdown.
The White House has signaled it’s not happy with the letter and disagrees with the proposed strategy.
Robert Costa, a reporter with The Washington Post, has more details on the forthcoming letter:
Sen. Alexander, a McConnell ally, tells me this morn that he plans to sign the letter being drafted by the bipartisan group, calling on POTUS to reopen the govt, and expects it could be released today. But he cautioned that senators, as ever, are still discussing the draft.
— Robert Costa (@costareports) January 16, 2019
Was just briefed on emerging bipartisan Senate letter: it’s short and calls for govt to reopen, border security talks to continue in good faith… a couple senators this morn, however, say the WH doesn’t like this letter and have made it clear to a few of them, want to hold line
— Robert Costa (@costareports) January 16, 2019
Senate Republicans getting restless
This isn’t the first time Senate Republicans have tried to push Trump to end the shutdown. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina attempted to broker a big immigration deal with other Senate Republicans and Democrats that would reopen the government and achieve substantive immigration reform, including the construction of a wall and amnesty for so-called ‘DACA’ individuals. Trump rejected the measure outright. (RELATED: Lindsey Graham: Trump Isn’t Giving In On Border Wall.)
With Trump standing firm, and Mitch McConnell not pushing for a quick end to the protracted shutdown fight, some Senate Republicans are going rogue and are joining with Democrats to urge Trump to give in.
Later today, we’ll find out just who these renegades are.
