Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Contact 90.5 WESA with a story idea or news tip: news@wesa.fm

Casey, Toomey Split In Votes On Bills To End Shutdown

AP
U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R) and Bob Casey (D).

Pennsylvania's U.S. senators split in votes on competing bills for ending the partial government shutdown as the Senate rejected President Donald Trump's plan and another that passed the Democratic-controlled House.

Thursday's votes saw Republican Sen. Pat Toomey back Trump's legislation, while Democratic Sen. Bob Casey supported the House bill. The Democratic proposal got two more votes than Trump's plan in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The House bill would have reopened the government through Feb. 8, but didn't allow money for a border wall that Trump is demanding.

The Trump-backed bill included $5.7 billion for border-wall funding, along with funding to reopen the government on a longer-term basis, temporary protections for young immigrants and new curbs on Central Americans seeking safe haven.

Some 800,000 federal workers are due to miss a second paycheck Friday.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.