Senate stumbles shutdown, as Rand Paul blocks vote

The government stumbled into a midnight shutdown Thursday as a rogue Senate Republican blocked a speedy vote on a massive, bipartisan, budget-busting spending deal, protesting the return of trillion-dollar deficits on the watch of Republicans controlling Washington. A shutdown - technically a lapse in agency appropriations - became inevitable as GOP Sen. Rand Paul repeatedly held up votes on the budget plan, which is married to a six-week government-wide spending measure.

Despite budget deal, Congress heads into an overnight government shutdown Source: Cox Media Group

For the second time in less than a month, the federal government officially ran out of money to operate, as the latest shutdown began at the stroke of midnight here in Washington, D.C., though Congressional leaders were hopeful that the federal government would be fully open for business by breakfast, as the House and Senate were poised to act after midnight. The lapse in funding occurred despite an agreement on a two-year budget deal, which also included full funding for the Pentagon, and a temporary funding plan for the rest of the federal government, as Sen. Rand Paul blocked action on the measure in the Senate.

Federal government shuts down as Rand Paul holds up key vote

The federal government shut down for the second time in less than a month overnight as Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul prevented a two-year budget deal from passing Thursday. Though a massive budget deal and government funding package still was expected to pass by morning, congressional negotiators were scrambling all day Thursday to lock in enough votes in the House, and that was before Paul, a Republican, made public his dissatisfaction with the deal, which would raise government spending, avert a government shutdown and lift the debt ceiling.

The Latest: Trump administration prepares for 2nd shutdown

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif., is shown on television as she speaks from the House floor on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, as a news conference that she was supposed to attend goes on in the ... . Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., leaves the chamber after announcing an agreement in the Senate on a two-year, almost $400 billion budget deal that would provide Pentagon and domestic programs with huge spe... .

Marc A. Thiessen: Trump throws away his momentum for peanuts

Last week, President Trump delivered a State of the Union address that won the approval of 75 percent of viewers, including 43 percent of Democrats. Normally, presidents try to ride the wave from a successful State of the Union as long as they can.

Midnight shutdown creeps closer as Congress debates budget

With a midnight government shutdown creeping closer, both Republicans and Democrats grappled with internal party divisions in advance of hoped-for showdown votes Thursday night on a massive budget deal. Frustrations mounted as GOP Sen. Rand Paul held up voting on the broad measure in hopes of obtaining a recorded vote on reversing its spending increases.

Budget plan’s $1 trillion deficit sours some Republicans

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., center, leaves the podium as he turns toward Rep. Mac Thornberry, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, left, after a news conference, Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Republican-led Congress on Thursday was rounding up support for a bipartisan budget bill that would put the government on track for annual deficits topping $1 trillion, a gap last seen toward the end of Obama's first term.

Government Heads For Shutdown, Thanks To Rand Paul

Even with Nancy Pelosi's epic 8-hour Speech on Stilettos yesterday, it seemed as though we would get a vote out of the way in the Senate and the House would be a close, but done deal. Except now Rand Paul is on the Senate floor yammering about liberty and blocking the Senate vote.

Trump administration advises federal agencies to prepare for ‘limited’ government shutdown

House Speaker Paul Ryan vows that once Congress reaches a budget deal, lawmakers will take up the plight of immigrant "Dreamers" who face deportation after being brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Sen. Rand Paul speaks with reporters on his way to a vote on the floor of the U.S. Senate at the U.S. Capitol February 8, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Kansas man facing deportation after coming to U.S. in 1987 gets temporary stay

An adjunct chemistry instructor living in Kansas who was arrested last week by immigration officials and faced imminent deportation to Bangladesh has been granted a temporary stay of removal but that doesn't mean he will be allowed to stay in the U.S., his attorney said Thursday. Syed Ahmed Jamal, 55, a native of Bangladesh who has lived in the U.S. for more than 30 years, was arrested Jan. 24 in the front yard of his home in Lawrence as he walked his children to school.

Lawmakers push for budget vote to avert government shutdown

Lawmakers pushed to enact a massive budget deal Thursday along with a stopgap temporary measure to prevent a government shutdown at midnight. GOP leaders tried to shore up support among conservatives for a plan that would shower the Pentagon with the billions they favor but also balloon the deficits they despise.

GOP senators raise more questions about Steele and dossier

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is surrounded by reporters after leaving the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., just before the announcement of an agreement in the Senate on a two-year, almost $400 billion budget deal that would provide Pentagon and domestic programs with huge spending increases, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. WASHINGTON - Two influential Republican senators have injected new information into the partisan dispute over the government's secret surveillance of a former campaign adviser to President Donald Trump, revealing more details about how the FBI and Justice Department used research compiled by a former British spy whose work was funded by Democrats.

What happened to the Democrats’ ‘Better Deal?’ Check the spending bill.

Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer leaves a closed-door meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 6 as they work on a plan to keep the government open for six more weeks. Eight months after Democrats began to release their "Better Deal" agenda, they're on the cusp of passing some of it into law - by tucking it into this week's must-pass spending bill.

Trump is so unpopular in N.J. that Democrats are now targeting this unbeatable Republican

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Chris Smith, who hasn't received less than 60 percent of the vote in his last 17 elections, has just been added to the House Democrats' list of 2018 targets . Thursday's announcement by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee means that the party is now focusing on every Republican-held seat in New Jersey.

George W. Bush: There’s clear evidence Russia…

White House officials knew about Porter's abuse allegations and scrambled to protect him - Senior aides to President Donald Trump knew for months about allegations of domestic abuse levied against top White House staffer Rob Porter by his ex-wives, even as Porter's stock White House Reportedly Knew About Porter Abuse Allegations Before Reports - When White House staff secretary Rob Porter announced Wednesday that he would resign following allegations of domestic abuse, the White House was still circulating statements defending Porter.

House Intel Republicans plan to wall off their aides from Democratic staffers

White House officials knew about Porter's abuse allegations and scrambled to protect him - Senior aides to President Donald Trump knew for months about allegations of domestic abuse levied against top White House staffer Rob Porter by his ex-wives, even as Porter's stock In new statement, Kelly says he was 'shocked' by Porter allegations and condemns abuse - More than 24 hours after issuing a statement defending staff secretary Rob Porter amid abuse allegations, White House chief of staff John Kelly said in a second statement that he was 'shocked' and condemned domestic abuse.

Bill renaming park in St. Louis for Gateway Arch headed to the president

Missouri U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Claire McCaskill today announced that their legislation passed the House yesterday and is headed to the president's desk. The legislation, S. 1438, which renames the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial as the Gateway Arch National Park.

Senate leadersa budget deal faces opposition in both parties new

Senate leaders brokered a long-sought budget agreement Wednesday that would shower the Pentagon and domestic programs with an extra $300 billion over the next two years. But both Democratic liberals and GOP tea party forces swung against the plan, raising questions about its chances just a day before the latest government shutdown deadline.