In the US budget dispute, the Senate will vote tomorrow on two proposals to end the month-long shutdown. This was agreed yesterday by the majority leaders of Republicans and opposition Democrats in the Senate, Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. The templates are given only small chances.
A proposal provides for a procedural vote to ensure funding by the federal authorities by September. It also includes the funds required by US President Donald Trump to build a wall on the Mexican border and his proposals for immigration policy.
The second proposal provides for interim financing by the authorities until 8 February. This should give time to debate about border security and immigration. It would also allow Trump’s speech on the state of the nation to be held before the US Congress in late January.
Longest „shutdown“ in history
Both proposals require a majority of at least 60 of the total of 100 senators. Given the hardened fronts, such a majority is currently highly unlikely.
The budget dispute has led to the longest „shutdown“ in US history. The blockade, which has been ongoing since December 22, was triggered by the dispute between President Trump and the opposition Democrats over the construction of a wall on the border with Mexico.
Trump demands $ 5.7 billion (€ 5.02 billion) for the wall he has been announcing since the election campaign, and the Democrats deny him this means. Overall, about one quarter of federal authorities and about 800,000 federal employees are affected by the „shutdown“ ban.
FBI professional association warns of consequences
The work of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) suffers increasingly according to a professional association under the budget lock. The agents worked without pay under increasingly difficult conditions, FBIA FBI President Tom O’Connor said yesterday (local time) at a press conference. That also has an impact on national security.
Several informants from the terrorist and drug scene FBI could not have been held, reports the US channel CNN, citing the FBIAA report „Voices from the Field“. In it, FBI agents describe the consequences of the missing funds for their practical work on site.
The FBI distanced itself in a statement from the report, as CNN continues to write. The report was a product of the FBIAA and not by the investigation authority
