Sen. Mike Rounds, a South Dakota Republican, told CBS News that things are heading in the right direction toward an agreement to speed through a number of procedural hurdles to get the funding plan to final passage in the upper chamber.
“We’ve got a few things to get cleared up,” Rounds said. “It’s very close.”
Republicans are looking to get unanimous consent from senators to move forward on the bill. Rounds said senators are hoping to leave town for Veterans Day, with a number of events expected in their states on Tuesday.
“But more importantly, folks have suffered long enough without a paycheck, and now it’s just a matter of locking it in and getting a time agreement completed,” Rounds told reporters after the Senate Republicans gathered for a conference meeting.
GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said Republicans are considering whether to put amendments up, warning that if they do, the process could drag out through the end of the week. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, the sole Republican to vote against the House-passed funding bill, is seeking a vote on an amendment that would strip the larger funding package of language restricting the use of hemp products, which would have an impact on Kentucky farmers. Mullin said he opposes giving Paul a vote on the amendment.
“I don’t see the point in it. If Rand wants to plant his flag and hold the government shut down over hemp in Kentucky, take that fight on,” Mullin said. “I think he’ll lose that one pretty hard.”
The Oklahoma Republican said there’s also a member pay issue, with the idea being floated to force lawmakers’ pay to go into escrow during a future shutdown.
“I think the two issues we can work out,” Mullin said. “I don’t think there’s going to be an issue working those out at all on our side.”
Senate Democrats could still delay final passage if they decline to relinquish their time on the floor. Mullin said Democrats have been “radio silent” on Monday.
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