Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellEverytown plans ad blitz on anniversary of House background check bill Kentucky state official says foreign adversaries 'routinely' scan election systems Don't let 'welfare for all' advocates derail administration's food stamp program reforms MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday ruled out a scenario where the chamber would try to override a veto from President Trump
Donald John TrumpChasten Buttigieg: 'I've been dealing with the likes of Rush Limbaugh my entire life' Lawmakers paint different pictures of Trump's 'opportunity zone' program We must not turn our heads from the effects of traumatic brain injuries MORE as a way out of the partial government shutdown.
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellEverytown plans ad blitz on anniversary of House background check bill Kentucky state official says foreign adversaries 'routinely' scan election systems Don't let 'welfare for all' advocates derail administration's food stamp program reforms MORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday ruled out a scenario where the chamber would try to override a veto from President TrumpDonald John TrumpChasten Buttigieg: 'I've been dealing with the likes of Rush Limbaugh my entire life' Lawmakers paint different pictures of Trump's 'opportunity zone' program We must not turn our heads from the effects of traumatic brain injuries MORE as a way out of the partial government shutdown. "In a situation like this where the president in my view is in the right place — trying to get the right outcome … with regard to border security — of course not," McConnell told reporters when asked if he would be willing to override a veto on legislation to fully reopen the government.
Democrats, who have been trying to build pressure on McConnell to break with Trump in the weeks-long funding fight, blasted the GOP leader on Tuesday afternoon, asserting he and Republicans were more worried about "not offending" Trump than reopening the government.
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Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer
Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerDemocratic senators urge Trump administration to request emergency funding for coronavirus response Barr to testify before House Judiciary panel Graham won't call Barr to testify over Roger Stone sentencing recommendation MORE (D-N.Y.) argued that Republicans "are hiding in the shadows as if they have some kind of aversion to doing their job when it involves even the slightest break with the president."
Charles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerDemocratic senators urge Trump administration to request emergency funding for coronavirus response Barr to testify before House Judiciary panel Graham won't call Barr to testify over Roger Stone sentencing recommendation MORE (D-N.Y.) argued that Republicans "are hiding in the shadows as if they have some kind of aversion to doing their job when it involves even the slightest break with the president."GOP senators, including members of Republican leadership, have repeatedly shot down questions from reporters about potentially trying to override a Trump veto — suggesting it was something McConnell would not consider as an escape hatch to the partial shutdown.
"We're not going to do that. Twenty Republicans are not going to join with 47 Democrats and override a veto on this issue," Sen. Roy Blunt
Roy Dean BluntSenate braces for fight over impeachment whistleblower testimony Booker, Merkley propose federal facial recognition moratorium GOP senators defend Sondland, Vindman ousters: They weren't 'loyal' MORE (Mo.), a member of GOP leadership, told reporters late last week. "It's like many other discussions here, a waste of time."
Roy Dean BluntSenate braces for fight over impeachment whistleblower testimony Booker, Merkley propose federal facial recognition moratorium GOP senators defend Sondland, Vindman ousters: They weren't 'loyal' MORE (Mo.), a member of GOP leadership, told reporters late last week. "It's like many other discussions here, a waste of time." McConnell has said the Senate will not take up government funding legislation unless it's an agreement reached by the White House and congressional Democratic leadership.
"There's no way around it. Having show votes in the Senate doesn't solve the problem," McConnell told reporters on Tuesday.
The GOP leader has twice blocked a House-passed package that would fully reopen the federal government, roughly a quarter of which has been closed since Dec. 22 amid a stalemate over Trump's demand for border wall funding.
One of the bills passed by the House would fund the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 8, while the other would fund the rest of the impacted departments and agencies through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year.
Updated: 4 p.m.
