US senator delays vote on bill to keep government running

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Hopes for a quick vote on legislation to keep the US government operating beyond midnight hit a snag on Thursday when Republican Senator Rand Paul put up a roadblock to voting because he first wanted debate on his amendment to kill the measure's increased federal spending.

However, other senators sounded frustrated by the delay. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican worried the holdup may result in more delays.

"If we get one amendment up, you can imagine other people are going to have amendments," he said. "You can essentially accomplish the same thing by a point-of-order and get a vote. He doesn't need consent to do that. So that's an alternative we're going to suggest to him and work with him on," he added.

It was unclear whether the Senate and the House of Representatives would be able to pass a funding bill by midnight, when existing federal funds expire. Without new funds, federal agencies would have to be ordered to partially shut down.

The US Capitol stands at sunset in Washington, DC, US, Feb. 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

Why are some Republicans opposed?

Other Republicans in the Senate may also vote no on the bill, citing similar concerns to Paul about the increasing federal debt.

"There's only so much I can do, and this is the silly thing about it. ... I will make them listen to me, and they will have to have me listened to," Paul defended himself on Fox News Thursday evening. "This is too important for the country not to have a debate about it."

Ohio congressman Warren Davidson told reporters "it adds to an awful lot of spending. It's not compassionate to bankrupt America."

Mo Brooks, a Republican legislator also blasted the bill for its fiscal irresponsibility, saying, "this spending bill is a debt junkie's dream, I'm not only a no; I'm a hell no."

What do Democrats oppose?

Democrats claim that the bill does not emphasize immigration.

Trump last September stopped the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which had protected immigrants who arrived in the US when they were young, known as Dreamers, from deportation. Democrats are pushing for DACA to be a part of budget deals.

Democratic House minority leader Nancy Pelosi insisted she would not support a deal without guarantees from Republicans to protect those Dreamers.

Nancy Pelosi speaks to members of the media after her long speech on February 7, 2017./ AFP Photo

She set new record for the longest speech ever made in the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The 77-year-old congresswoman spent eight hours telling the stories of Dreamers.

The Republican House speaker earlier on Thursday promised to discuss a solution to immigration issue after the bill passed.

$300 billion more new bill

The deal, backed by President Donald Trump, would add almost 300 billion US dollars to the federal deficit and leaves the thorny immigration issues unresolved.

The bill includes 165 billion US dollars in additional defense spending and 131 billion US dollars for domestic spending, covering healthcare, infrastructure, and tackling the US opioid crisis.

The defense spending increased nine percent from the previous fiscal year.

According to CNN, the deal also includes aid packages for recent natural disasters.

Twitter screenshot /CGTN Photo

Trump on Wednesday urged both Democrats and Republicans to support the new bill claiming the increasing bill to the Pentagon matters to US military.

White House 'preparing' for shutdown

The White House has instructed federal agencies to get ready for a possible government shutdown, said an official from the management and budget office.

If the shutdown takes place, it would be the second in less than a month. Meanwhile, massive numbers of federal agency workers would not got to work Friday as some government agencies will run out of money if funding lapses.

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