Reckoning for some senators Jan. 24

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate leaders agreed Jan. 22 to hold votes this week on a pair of proposals to reopen federal agencies still affected by the longest (partial) shutdown in history. It’ll be a reckoning for some senators: Side with President Trump or vote to temporarily end the shutdown and keep negotiating. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) set up the showdown votes for Jan. 24, one day before about 800,000 federal workers are due to miss a second paycheck. One vote will be on Trump’s offer to trade border wall funding for temporary protections for some immigrants. It has already been rejected by Democrats. The second vote is set for a bill approved by the Democrat-controlled House that would reopen the government through Feb. 8, but no wall money, to give bargainers time to talk. (Source: The AP 01/22/19)