No end of tunnel yet: 2 bills to end US govt shutdown fail in Senate

Washington, Jan 25: The government shutdown in the US seems to be a dark, endless tunnel as the US Senate on Thursday, January 24, rejected two bills that aimed ending the stalemate. The shutdown, which is in force since December 22, is the longest ever in the history of the world's oldest democracy and left a serious impact on its people and economy.

While the Republican legislation failed by 50-47, that of the Democrats failed by 52-44. They needed 60 votes to be successful. In the meantime, eight lakh furloughed federal employees, who have been spending days without pay for over a month now, are set to miss yet another pay on February, January 25.

The Democratic bill failed to pass despite six Republican defectors voting for it, include former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Had the bill been passed, the government would have reopened by February 8. On the other hand, one Democrat backed the Republican legislation which would have sanctioned the wall worth $5.7 billion that President Donald Trump is eyeing to build a wall along America's southern border with Mexico. It would also have saved, albeit temporarily, from deportation some US residents who had entered the country without documentation as kids.

Soon afterwards the bills tanked, the Senate leaders from both the parties discussed briefly a new proposal to reopen the government agencies for three weeks, CNN reported.

While Trump said he would not sign a bill if the "down payment" on the wall was made, Democratic leader of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi said the president's stand was without a reason.