BULLETIN:  SHUTDOWN APPARENTLY TO END – AT 12:55 P.M.   From Fox: 

The Senate on Monday voted 81-18 to break a Democratic filibuster on a government spending bill, clearing the way for Congress to approve the stopgap measure and end the three-day government shutdown. 

The Senate still has to vote on the bill itself, which the House would have to consider next. But the show of support early Monday afternoon virtually guarantees it will pass. The measure would fund the government through Feb. 8. 

Democrats effectively backed off their opposition, after being given assurances from majority Republicans. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., announced on the floor ahead of the procedural vote that they’d reached an agreement. He said it comes with a commitment to negotiate on immigration, and immediately consider such legislation if there’s no agreement by Feb. 8.

The Trump White House and Capitol Hill Republicans had cranked up the pressure earlier Monday on Democrats to abandon their immediate demands for immigration measures and vote in support of the temporary spending bill.

“They shut down the government,” White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told “Fox & Friends” on Monday morning. “The pressure is on them.”

COMMENT:  We trust that the Dems will not pull anything like a shutdown again.  These things are not popular with normal people. 

Remember, this isn't over.  If the measure goes through both houses, as expected, it only funds the government through February 8th.  We could repeat this cliffhanger stuff unless wise heads prevail.

January 22, 2018