The Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives has voted to end a partial government shutdown but the move looks certain to be vetoed by President Donald Trump. Mr Trump has said he will reject any measure that does not provide funding for his proposed US-Mexico border wall.
New House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has branded the wall “an immorality”. The measures also require the approval of the Republican-run Senate – but senators have already ruled this out.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans there would not back measures that Mr Trump did not support and called the Democrats’ move a “total nonstarter” and a “political sideshow”. The legislation passed by the House of Representatives would fund homeland security operations until 8 February and fund several other agencies until September.
The partial US government shutdown began when Congress and Mr Trump failed to reach an agreement over a budget bill in December.
Mr Trump’s Republicans had passed an initial funding bill including $5bn (£4bn) for the wall, when they still had a majority in the House, but they could not get the necessary 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate. Democrats won the majority of the House in the November mid-term elections, and the new representatives were sworn in on Thursday.
“We’re asking the president to open up government,” Ms Pelosi told the Today show before the first session of the new House. “We have given the Republicans a chance to take yes for an answer.”
The president is due to resume budget talks with top Democrats and Republicans on Friday. The first day of a new Congress is usually like the first day of school. New arrivals wander the halls in a daze. It’s all handshakes and smiles; ceremony and sunshine. There was a big cloud over the proceedings at the Capitol on Thursday, however. For the first time in US history, a government shutdown – the fourth-longest on record already – has stretched from one Congress into the next.
There were still receptions and flowery speeches to supporters who travelled to Washington for the occasion. But the champagne toasts were abbreviated, as the real work in Congress began almost immediately. The House Democrats scheduled votes for their legislation to reopen the government just hours after the swearing-in ceremonies wrapped up.
This was the opening move, however. Republicans in the Senate have pledged to only vote on measures that have Donald Trump’s support – and the president continues to demand his border wall funding.
As Dick Durbin, the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, told me on Thursday, there’s “no end in sight” for the shutdown. “I’m realistic, not optimistic,” he added.
It may be a new day and a new Congress, but hope is already a scarce commodity.
Thursday evening’s budget vote in the House of Representatives came after Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, was again elected as Speaker. “I’m particularly proud to be a woman Speaker of the house of this Congress, which marks the 100th year of women having the right to vote,” she said.
“And, that we all have the ability and the privilege to serve with over 100 women members of Congress – the largest number in history. ”
Speaking from the White House briefing room for his first time ever on Thursday, Mr Trump congratulated Ms Pelosi, saying: “It’s a very, very great achievement and hopefully we’re going to work together.”
