Mitch McConnell To Introduce Short-Term Funding Bill To Avoid Government Shutdown

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced Wednesday he would be introducing a short-term funding bill that would fund the government until Feb. 8, as funding is set to expire Friday.

The passing of the legislation is supposed to give both sides time to debate funding for a border wall, which has become the main issue for government funding. Republicans have continued to fight for billions of dollars in funding, while Democrats do not want to fund the wall at all.

The new legislation will “provide the resources necessary to continue normal operations through February 8th,” McConnell said in a Wednesday tweet.

Funding for the government was set to expire on Dec 7. However, the House passed a two-week resolution to avoid a government shutdown by unanimous consent in a voice vote, meaning members did not have to be present for the vote. The bill was then approved by the Senate, which is in session, funding the government until Dec. 21.

If approved, McConnell’s bill will fund the government until Feb. 8 and give both sides more time to work out their differences on the border wall.