BREAKING: Democrats vote down GOP funding bill, putting government on path to shutdown
Senate Democrats have voted down a Republican bill to keep funding the government, putting it on a near certain path to a�shutdown�after midnight Wednesday for the first time in almost seven years.
The 55-45 vote Tuesday on the bill to extend federal funding for seven weeks fell short of the 60 needed to end a filibuster and pass the legislation. It came as Democrats are making good on their threat to close the government if President Donald Trump and Republicans won�t accede to their health care demands. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Republicans are trying to �bully� Democrats by refusing to negotiate on an extension of health care benefits and other priorities.
A government closure would mean that hundreds of thousands of federal workers could be furloughed or�laid off. Trump threatened retribution on Democrats for a potential shutdown, saying Tuesday that it could include �cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.�
