Shutdown Averted? Schumer, Corker Strike 11th Hour Deal

Update: The House has voted to meet tomorrow at Noon, 12 hours into the potential government shutdown.

McConnell, meanwhile, said that the Senate voted to proceed “in order to maintain maximum flexibility” to cut a later funding deal. That said, there is no agreement on funding, which CNN’s Manu Raju suggests means there is no chance Trump gets his $5 billion in wall funding.

Emerging from a meeting in Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) office, Corker said that Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and McConnell are expected to enter into an agreement on the Senate floor, according to The Hill.

“This is will be an agreement between McConnell and Schumer about what next happens on the Senate floor. You’ll see them to enter into a little discussion,” said Corker. “It charts the course forward that gives us the best chance of actually coming to a solution.”

Corker suggested that a government shutdown may be averted – citing meetings with White House officials.

“Some of the folks at the White House seem to be optimistic,” he said, adding that President Trump “is very aware of what’s happening.”

The potential breakthrough comes after Schumer met with Vice President Pence, incoming White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and White House advisor Jared Kushner on Friday afternoon. 

The negotiations later moved over to the House, with Pence, Mulvaney and Kushner huddling in Speaker Paul Ryan’s ceremonial office with Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), Freedom Caucus leaders Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Republican Study Committee Chairman Mark Walker (R-N.C.).

Corker warned that the danger of a partial government shutdown is not completely gone. –The Hill

“It’s just how we’re going to proceed in a manner that we think is best,” said Corker. “The first discussion is not substance, it’s process.”

Meanwhile, looks like Trump may go medieval on illegal border crossers…