WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate raced to avert a government shutdown on Fridayahead of a midnight deadline with no agreement on funding in sight and bothparties squabbling over who is to blame for the impasse.
A bill to fund the federal government through Feb. 16, approved on Thursdaynight by the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, appeared on theverge of collapse in the Senate, where Democratic votes are needed to passit.
President Donald Trump postponed plans to go to his Mar-a-Lago resort inFlorida and met at the White House with Senate Democratic Leader ChuckSchumer to averting the shutdown, a source familiar with the situation said.
“The president is continuing to reach out to them and he will continue todo so throughout the day,” White House legislative liaison Marc Short saidof talks with Democrats.