House

House rejects GOP measure to pay workers but not open government

by Juliegrace Brufke - 01/17/19 12:58 PM ET

The House rejected a GOP measure to pay furloughed workers but keep the government closed in a 222-195 vote.

Six Democrats voted for the GOP measure, offered as an alternative to a Democratic bill to reopen the government.

The Democratic bill, which would have funded the government through Feb. 28, is expected to be approved but is dead on arrival in the Senate. A vote on that measure will be postponed until next week.

The move comes as parties continue to point fingers over who bears the responsibility for the ongoing partial government shutdown.

{mosads}Republicans have accused Democrats of failing to take negotiations on border security and President Trump’s border wall seriously, calling on negotiators to put forward a compromise.

“While Democrats flail under their misguided leadership, Republicans continue to offer solutions. This time we are working to get federal employees paid and give Democrats time to negotiate an end to the shutdown,” a spokeswoman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said in an email to reporters.

Top Democrats, who have blasted Trump’s call for $5.7 billion for border security including a physical barrier along the U.S.-Mexico border, alleging Republicans are holding the government hostage over a partisan priority. Democrats have called on the administration to reopen the government before they negotiate funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

“This is a political stunt to distract from the fact that Republicans are about to vote for the ninth time to keep the government shutdown,” a Democratic aide told The Hill on the GOP motion.

Niv Elis contributed.

-Updated 2:40 p.m.

Tags Donald Trump Kevin McCarthy