US Senate fails to reopen government

The US Senate has voted down two separate bills that would have reopened the government, as the shutdown continues into its 35th day.

A proposal backed by Donald Trump, which included $5.7 billion to build a border wall, failed with a vote of 50-47, short of the 60 votes required for it to pass.

A Democrat-led proposal to reopen the government for two weeks, without money for a border wall, also failed. However, it garnered more support than Trump’s plan, with senators voting 52-44.

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The White House had already said that Trump would not back their proposal unless it included at least a “down payment” for the border wall, the Washington Post says.

Six Republican senators voted in favour of the Democrat proposal, including Mitt Romney, who spoke to the media following the vote.

“I believe a border security programme should include, as well, a barrier on our southern border. I want to see government get open and government workers get paid. It’s having an effect on our economy and it’s having an effect on the lives of workers,” Romney said.

The White House is preparing a draft proclamation for Trump to “declare a national emergency along the southern border”, CNN reports, and the administration has “identified more than $7 billion in potential funds for his signature border wall”.

Meanwhile, Senators continue to negotiate a bill that would receive bipartisan support, with Trump telling Republicans and Democrats that if they could reach a “reasonable agreement,” he would support it.