A group of 20 Senators from both sides of the aisle are reportedly working on a compromise aimed at ending the nearly month-long partial government shutdown over Pres. Trump's request for $5.7 billion to build additional barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. No details of any possible deal have been released, but the Gang of 20 Senators plan to send Pres. Trump a letter urging him to agree to a 3-week spending bill to re-open the government, while a proposal is drafted.
According to Politico, Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Rob Portman of Ohio and Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Chris Coons of Delaware are all involved in the talks. Former Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas) confirmed the existence of the gang yesterday, but would not say who was in the group, other than to note that he is not part of it.
In a draft of the letter obtained by Politico, the Senators tell Pres. Trump that they would like to use regular process in drafting legislation to provide the border funding he's requested:
"We respectfully request that you join us in supporting a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) of three weeks to give Congress time to develop and vote on a bipartisan agreement that addresses your request. We commit to working to advance legislation that can pass the Senate with substantial bipartisan support."
Last week, Sen. Graham, along with a group of Republican Senators and two White House officials, outlined a proposal that would trade a DACA amnesty for the border wall funding that Pres. Trump has requested. However, Pres. Trump rejected the deal.
