Cracks in the Wall: The First Republican Senators Have Abandoned Trump in the Shutdown Fight

Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner’s spokesperson announced Wednesday that the Republican lawmaker will vote Thursday for a clean funding bill to end the government shutdown sans wall funding. Gardner will be joined in his bipartisan efforts by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine).

Today marks day 34 of the ongoing partial government shutdown, the longest shutdown in American history. The record-breaking standstill is driven by President Donald Trump’s pending promises for a $5.7 billion wall along the southern border. In his attempting to fulfill that promise, over 800,000 federal workers have gone without pay.

Gardner’s spokesperson said Wednesday that the Senator has historically opposed shutdowns for this reason.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) pledged to allow members to vote on two competing bills, one proposed by Republicans and one proposed by Democrats. The Republican proposal, backed by McConnell, seeks to fund the border wall and reopen government, offering temporary protections for some immigrants as a bargaining chip in exchange for the $5.7 billion. The Democrats’ proposal, known as a continuing resolution, would allow the government to reopen while lawmakers continue debating border security.

Sixty votes are needed to pass each bill.