This week, Congress voted to approve a continuing resolution, which will temporarily avoid a shutdown and extend government funding through December 22, 2017. The White House endorsed the continuing resolution, known as H.J. Resolution 123, earlier this week to support House Republican efforts to avoid a government shutdown. Congressional leaders from both parties in the House and Senate met with President Trump this week to negotiate a budget deal.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) claims “Congressional negotiators are making good headway on a budget deal,” but negotiators are struggling to meet the demands of defense hawks and hardline conservators. House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) and Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Arizona) are refusing to agree to funding measures until their demands for military spending are met, and members of the House Freedom Caucus argue a December 22nd deadline won’t leave members enough time to evaluate the final spending package. Further complicating budget efforts are efforts to address the DACA program fix that President Trump promised Democratic Leaders in September. Democrats have more leverage in budget negotiations where 60 votes are needed to pass a funding proposal through the Senate.
Republicans will need a minimum 8 votes from minority members to pass the budget deal, granting Democrats a chance to secure protections for “DREAMers”, the estimated 700,000 immigrants brought into the U.S. as children without proper documentation of residency status.