Dems vote to reopen government

Washington: In spite of veto threat from the White House, House Democrats on Thursday approved a legislative package aimed at ending the partial government shutdown, while rejecting President Donald Trump’s demand for additional funding for a border wall.

The legislation is expected to be dead on arrival in the Senate, leaving congressional Democrats and the administration at a stalemate that threatens to prolong the shutdown, which is wrapping up its second week. 

The House of Representatives first voted on Thursday to approve a stopgap spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security that would not allocate any new wall funding, in a rebuke to the President. The Bill passed by 239-192, with five Republicans joining Democrats.

Shortly afterward, the House voted to approve a legislative package made up of six full-year spending Bills to reopen other shuttered parts of the federal government.

The key sticking point in the shutdown fight has been the President’s demand for $5 billion in wall funding, which congressional Democrats have refused to meet.

Congressional leaders from both parties are expected to meet with the President at the White House on Friday morning.

Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday that “if there’s no wall, there's no deal” to end the partial government shutdown during an interview with Fox News.