Maine Senator Angus King has made it clear that he won't support a government funding package that includes ICE funding, citing the need to prevent a partial shutdown. However, he emphasized that "we don't have to have a shutdown" and suggested an alternative approach.
King's stance comes as lawmakers scramble to pass the necessary funding bills by Friday, which would otherwise lead to a partial government shutdown. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced that Democrats will not support a package that includes funds for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, due to concerns over "horrific footage" of abuses by the agency in Minneapolis.
King, who caucuses with Democrats but has previously negotiated with Republicans on funding bills, believes there's an easy way out of the standoff. He argued that Senate Majority Leader John Thune should separate the DHS bill from the other five funding measures, allowing for a more honest negotiation and "guardrails" to be put in place to prevent future abuses.
According to King, if the other five funding bills pass, 96% of the federal government will be funded. By focusing on those bills first, lawmakers could avoid the need for a shutdown while still addressing concerns about ICE's actions.
The situation has raised tensions between Democrats and Republicans, with Schumer urging Republicans to "work with Democrats to advance the other five funding bills" while rewriting the DHS bill. The fate of the government shutdown remains uncertain, but King's proposal suggests a potential pathway forward that prioritizes preventing future abuses by ICE.
King's stance comes as lawmakers scramble to pass the necessary funding bills by Friday, which would otherwise lead to a partial government shutdown. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has announced that Democrats will not support a package that includes funds for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, due to concerns over "horrific footage" of abuses by the agency in Minneapolis.
King, who caucuses with Democrats but has previously negotiated with Republicans on funding bills, believes there's an easy way out of the standoff. He argued that Senate Majority Leader John Thune should separate the DHS bill from the other five funding measures, allowing for a more honest negotiation and "guardrails" to be put in place to prevent future abuses.
According to King, if the other five funding bills pass, 96% of the federal government will be funded. By focusing on those bills first, lawmakers could avoid the need for a shutdown while still addressing concerns about ICE's actions.
The situation has raised tensions between Democrats and Republicans, with Schumer urging Republicans to "work with Democrats to advance the other five funding bills" while rewriting the DHS bill. The fate of the government shutdown remains uncertain, but King's proposal suggests a potential pathway forward that prioritizes preventing future abuses by ICE.