Plan to End Shutdown

House Democrats Have a Plan to End Shutdown

But coming legislation does not provide Trump's requested $5B for a border wall

By Newser Editors

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Democrats retake control of the House this week, and they plan two quick moves designed to end the government shutdown.

'Vote Swiftly'

Dems Say They'll 'Vote Swiftly' to End Shutdown

Funding bill expected on Jan. 3

By Rob Quinn

Empty corridors around the Senate are seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, during a partial government shutdown.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

For the first time since the end of 1995, the US is on course to start a new year amid a government shutdown.

Partial Government Shutdown

How The Partial Government Shutdown Could Affect You

SHANNON VAN SANT


The U.S. government has partially shut down; more than 800,000 federal workers are affected.
Carolyn Kaster/AP

The partial shutdown of the U.S. government that began Saturday affects about a quarter of the government. About 800,000 federal workers will feel the effects as lawmakers try to come to an agreement on a set of spending bills to keep the government funded.

Overhaul of Justice System

Senate overwhelmingly backs overhaul of criminal justice system

Senate backs sweeping bipartisan overhaul of criminal justice system in victory for Trump

By John Wagner and Karoun Demirjian 

The Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed a sweeping overhaul of the criminal justice system, after a remarkable political shift from Republicans who voted in large numbers to save money by reducing prison sentences, handing a rare bipartisan victory to President Trump.

Gov't Shutdown

Government shutdown? You'll still get mail and packages, be able to travel

By Todd Spangler
(Photo: Mark Lennihan, AP)

WASHINGTON – If Congress and the White House don't make a deal this week to stave off a partial government shutdown, Saturday – three days before Christmas – could be the start of the third shutdown since President Trump took office less than two years ago.

End Saudi Support

Senate Votes To End U.S. Support For War In Yemen, Rebuking Trump And Saudi Arabia

By SCOTT DETROW

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., sponsored the resolution to withdraw U.S. military aid from the war in Yemen with Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. He argues the move will garner international notice as the conflict continues.
Zach Gibson/Getty Images

The Senate voted with support from lawmakers in both parties Thursday to end U.S. military support for Saudi Arabia's war in Yemen. The 56-41 vote marks the first time the Senate utilized powers granted under the 1973 War Powers Act, which gives Congress the power to demand an end to military actions.

GOP Has 6 Potential Problems

With Congress Back, GOP Has 6 Potential Problems

Half-a-dozen Republican senators are wavering on tax reform, enough to kill it

By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

(NEWSER) – Congress returned to work on Monday after the holiday break, and the stretch between now and Christmas promises to be a chaotic one. The main issue is that Republicans want to have their tax-overhaul plan on President Trump's desk before the year is out. That would be dicey enough on its own, but the Hill notes that lawmakers also need to resolve a Dec. 8 deadline to avoid a government shutdown, with the issues of immigration and health care complicating all of the above. Details and developments:

• 6 problems: Republicans can afford to lose only two GOP votes in the Senate on the tax plan, and Axios counts six potential nays at the moment: John McCain, Jeff Flake, and Bob Corker, all of whom would seemingly relish snubbing Trump; plus Susan Collins, Ron Johnson, and a new name in the mix, Steve Daines of Montana.
• The push: The Washington Post reports on negotiations currently underway to win over the holdouts. Johnson and Daines worry GOP leaders the most, and both senators feel the current tax plan favors corporations over other, typically smaller, businesses. Tax breaks to help the latter could result, though the leaders would then have to find ways to offset that loss in revenue.
• Watch Alabama: Politico notes that Alabama's special election involving Roy Moore is Dec. 12, meaning there's no guarantee that Republicans will be able to hold onto that "yes" vote in the Senate.
• Trump optimistic: "The Tax Cut Bill is coming along very well, great support," the president tweeted Monday. "With just a few changes, some mathematical, the middle class and job producers can get even more in actual dollars and savings and the pass through provision becomes simpler and really works well!" Trump was to meet with GOP tax writers on Monday, ahead of a key Senate vote on Thursday, per Reuters.
• Shutdown: The government runs out of money on Dec. 8 unless new legislation is passed, and Democrats may use that leverage to insist that any spending plan include money to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. A slew of other issues may be folded into this fight as well, including funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program. In short, the next two weeks could well define the rest of Trump's first term, writes Bob Bryan at Business Insider.
• What else: Fights over ObamaCare funding, flood insurance, and a key spy program also may factor in to the year-end legislative free-for-all, and CNN has details on each.