The Senate is up against a government funding deadline Friday and needs 60 votes to keep the lights on and prevent a shutdown beginning Saturday morning.
“The sooner we get this wrapped up, the better,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters on Friday morning.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) backed the continuing resolution late Thursday, sparking the fury of many in his party who have called loudly for the bill’s defeat.
Those tensions remained on full display Friday.
His announcement provides crucial political cover to Senate Democratic centrists who are thinking about voting for the House-passed bill to keep the government from shutting down, even though they have serious concerns about it, but a number of them have already vowed to oppose the measure.
The first vote is set for early afternoon.
President Trump on Friday afternoon will head to the Justice Department for remarks on “law and order,” according to the White House.
Follow along for updates on this and more.
