Republicans, Democrats reach deal to end US govt shutdown

The opposition Democrats on Monday reached an agreement with the Republicans to have a debate on immigration so as to end the ongoing federal government shutdown which lasted for three days. The government is now most likely to reopen latest by tomorrow.

Lawmakers in the Senate and the House of Representatives were rushing through procedural legislative motions to fund the spending bill of federal government by a little over two weeks 17 days to be precise till February 8.

Democrats climbed onboard after two days of negotiations that ended with new reassurances from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the Senate would consider immigration proposals in the coming weeks.

The Senate's top Democrat Chuck Schumer told the chamber he had reached a deal with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in exchange for a pledge to address Democrat concerns over hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the country as children, reports news agency AP.

Democrats had refused to vote for the temporary budget extension unless they secured guarantees on the future of the so-called "Dreamers," who will be vulnerable to deportation when the DACA program protecting them expires in March.

"After several discussions, offers, counteroffers, the Republican leader and I have come to an arrangement," Schumer said, moments before the key vote got underway.

The necessary legislation is expected to reach the Oval Office desk of US President Donald Trump to sign it into law by today, so as to facilitate reopening of the federal government, which remained shutdown for three days beginning Saturday.

The bill to keep government funded through February 8 requires 60 votes to advance in the 100-member Senate, meaning Republicans -- who have a one-seat majority need to lure several Democrats to their side.

Hundreds of thousands of US federal employees were forced to stay home without pay Monday after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on ending a government shutdown before the start of the work week.

OneIndia News