McConnell on immigration debate: "I intend to keep my word"
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says if the government remains open on Feb. 8, lawmakers will have a "fair and open process" as they handle immigration legislation on the Senate floor.
"I intend to keep my word," he urged reporters. The process will "give a variety of different points of views an opportunity to express themselves."
Late Monday, the House followed the Senate in passing legislation to reopen the government after the shutdown 266-150. The Senate vote was 81-18.
President Trump later signed off on the bill, officially funding the government through Feb. 8 and ending the weekend-long government shutdown. The measure also extends the Children's Health Insurance Program through 2023 and suspends three Obamacare-related taxes and fees.
Lawmakers are now expected to get back to work on legislation on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to help the undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers, with the possibility of another shutdown may be just weeks away.
McConnell told reporters on Tuesday "most of the things we'll be doing will be on a bipartisan basis," but he did not elaborate on where President Trump still stood on pending immigration policies.
"The president's been in discussions with a number of people, Senator Cornyn among them, about his approach to this issue, and we'll see whether later they decide to make an announcement on that subject, it wouldn't be up to me to make that announcement," said McConnell.
On Tuesday, Mr. Trump questioned if Republicans and Democrats would be able reach a deal on DACA, but tweeted "everyone will be trying."
Nobody knows for sure that the Republicans & Democrats will be able to reach a deal on DACA by February 8, but everyone will be trying....with a big additional focus put on Military Strength and Border Security. The Dems have just learned that a Shutdown is not the answer!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2018
Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Schumer blamed Mr. Trump for the three-day-long shutdown, citing his "inability to negotiate with Congress."
Schumer said his Republican colleagues in the Senate were "afraid" of Mr. Trump because he has still not provided clear indications on where he stood on a fix for DACA.
"They want to know what he'll do but he doesn't tell them to do anything -- he usually tells them 'you do it yourselves,' and then we get paralysis."
Schumer says after the shutdown there has been a "renewed momentum" to handle DACA in the Senate.
"We advanced the ball for the Dreamers. We're proud of the role we played," said Schumer, and how, he said, the Senate will now likely "work its will on its own." He added, "The bipartisan group yesterday was a glimmer of hope that might happen."