GOP blocks Dems bill to temporarily reopen gov’t

WASHINGTON  — The Latest on President Donald Trump, Congress and the partial government shutdown (all times local):
3:35 p.m.
Republicans controlling the Senate have scuttled a Democratic attempt to temporarily reopen the shuttered portions of the federal government.
The measure would have reopened agency doors through Feb. 8 to give bargainers time to seek a budget accord, an approach that GOP leaders tried last month — only to be undercut by President Donald Trump.
Trump is refusing to reopen the government until he gets a deal on funding for his long-sought border wall.
The Democratic measure had already passed the House, but fell short Thursday of the 60 votes required in the Senate to defeat a GOP filibuster.
Polls have shown that the public is blaming Trump for the shutdown and his approval numbers have sunk as the impasse drags on. The partial government shutdown is now in its 34th day. Federal workers are on the verge of missing another paycheck Friday.
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3:15 p.m.
Senate Democrats have blocked President Donald Trump’s request for $5.7 billion to construct his long-sought wall along the U.S-Mexico border, as a partial government shutdown continues for a 34th day.
The partisan 50-47 tally fell well short of the 60 votes required to advance the measure over a Democratic filibuster. The $350 billion-plus government-wide funding bill represented the first attempt by Republicans controlling the Senate to reopen the government since the shutdown began.
The demise of the measure and likely defeat of a Democratic alternative Thursday comes despite increasing urgency felt by lawmakers to end the shutdown. It leaves Washington with no obvious path out of the impasse despite mounting pressure.
The measure would have also provided three years of continued protection against deportation for 700,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children.
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12:45 p.m.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’s willing to meet with President Donald Trump “anytime” to discuss ending the partial government shutdown.
Pelosi told reporters she’s “still optimistic” Senate Republicans will vote Thursday for the Democratic bill that would temporarily reopen government while talks are held over Trump’s demand for $5.7 billion to build the border wall.
The speaker said House Democrats are putting together a new border security package that could provide a step toward a compromise. It will include money for fencing, technology, personnel and other measures, but not Trump’s proposed wall.
Trump responded in real time on Twitter saying, “very simply, without a Wall it all doesn’t work…. We will not Cave!”
Some 800,000 federal workers are set to miss another paycheck Friday. The government is in its 34th day of a partial shutdown.
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12:29 a.m.
The Senate’s new approach to ending the partial government shutdown actually takes votes instead of just pointing fingers. But two competing bills appear likely to fail Thursday, caught in a poisonous Washington impasse.
Either measure would reopen federal agencies and pay 800,000 federal workers who are days from missing yet another paycheck.
Republicans would couple ending the 34-day shutdown with $5.7 billion for President Donald Trump’s border wall and revamping immigration laws. Democrats would reopen agency doors for three weeks while bargainers continue to seek a budget deal.
Twin defeats might spur the two sides into a more serious effort to reach an agreement. With the impact of the shutdown becoming increasingly painful, lawmakers say they’re willing to compromise on border security and immigration policy.
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For AP’s complete coverage of the U.S. government shutdown: https://apnews.com/GovernmentShutdown