Sen. Blumenthal a ‘no’ on short-term spending bill

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday said he will vote against a short-term spending deal that doesn’t include a solution for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“There is no reason that any short-term deal should exclude the Dreamers. There is a bipartisan compromise supported by the vast majority of the American people,” Blumenthal said, using a nickname for DACA recipients. 

Blumenthal was referring to a proposal from Sens. Dick DurbinRichard (Dick) Joseph DurbinMcCarthy: ‘No deadline on DACA’ Ex-Sheriff David Clarke: Trump only one who 'cares about black American citizens' DHS chief takes heat over Trump furor MORE (D-Ill.) and Lindsey GrahamLindsey Olin GrahamDHS chief takes heat over Trump furor Overnight Defense: GOP chair blames Dems for defense budget holdup | FDA, Pentagon to speed approval of battlefield drugs | Mattis calls North Korea situation 'sobering' Bipartisan group to introduce DACA bill in House MORE (R-S.C.) that includes a DACA fix, border security funding and other reforms. President TrumpDonald John TrumpDems flip Wisconsin state Senate seat Sessions: 'We should be like Canada' in how we take in immigrants GOP rep: 'Sheet metal and garbage' everywhere in Haiti MORE, however, has pushed back on the deal.

Congress must pass a spending bill before Friday to avert a government shutdown. Democratic leaders have indicated they won’t support a bill that doesn’t include protections for Dreamers, the label for those who benefit from DACA.

The Trump administration announced last year it would rescind DACA, which allows certain immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children to remain here and work without fear of deportation.

“I’ll vote against a short term spending bill – the fourth in as many months – because it simply kicks the can down the road,” Blumenthal said Wednesday. “It holds hostage not only the dreamers but also defense spending, military and non-military, the health community facilities bill, aid for disaster relief.”

Republican leaders, however, have expressed opposition to including immigration reform in any spending bill, prompting speculation a short-term spending bill will be the only solution to keep the government open.

Rep. Mark MeadowsMark Randall MeadowsFreedom Caucus chair: GOP leaders don't have votes to avoid shutdown GOP leaders pitch children's health funding in plan to avert shutdown House to consider another short-term spending bill MORE (R-N.C.), the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said late Tuesday night that House GOP leadership did not have the votes to pass a government funding bill, meaning a spending measure will likely require at least some Democratic support in the House.