Schumer Tells Pence Spending Bill With Wall Funds Has No Chances In US Senate - Spokesman

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd December, 2018) US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Vice President Mike Pence and Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney during their meeting at Capitol Hill that any spending bill that includes Federal funding for a border wall with Mexico will not be approved by the upper chamber, the senator's office said in a statement.

"Leader Schumer reminded them that any proposal with funding for the wall will not pass the Senate," the statement said on Friday.

The US government shutdown may happen on Friday at midnight if Democrats and Republicans do not agree on the border wall finding. The Trump administration is seeking $5 billion to build the border wall. The Senate vote on proceeding with the House continuing resolution is now stuck at 44-46.

The Senate Democratic leader suggested that President Donald Trump should consider the two proposals that he and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi offered during a meeting at the White House last week. Schumer added these bills remain on the table.

On Wednesday, the US Senate passed a continuing resolution to fund the government through February 8. The bill contains money for border security, but not specifically for the wall.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed its own short-term spending measure which includes $ 5.7 billion for the wall.

House Speaker Paul Ryan has earlier told reporters that Trump will not be signing the temporary funding bill that passed the Senate late Wednesday due to lack of funding for a border wall.