Paul Ryan says immigration talks on the cards as scramble for votes to avoid US shutdown is on
House Speaker Paul Ryan has said immigration is his ‘next priority’ after averting shutdown, but some Dems won’t vote in favour of funding without promises from him
As US lawmakers scramble to get the votes to pass a bill that will avoid a US shutdown, House Speaker Paul Ryan has attempted to mollify Democrat concern by saying that an immigration bill is the “next big priority”.
Leading House Democrat Nancy Pelosi has threatened to block the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 - which will provide funding for federal government beyond midnight tonight - if Ryan does not commit to a debate on the US immigrants temporarily protected by the DACA programme.
Ryan, a Republican, declined to make any promises Thursday, but did say that nobody should doubt his “intention to solve this problem and bring up a DACA and immigration reform bill.”
I’m pleased with the product, I’m not pleased with the process
Senators were expected to take up and pass the breakthrough bill later Thursday, and then send it to the House of Representatives - which will barely have time to debate it before government funding expires at midnight.
Although Republicans have a 238-193 majority in the House, the “Freedom Caucus”, which numbers about three dozen Republicans, announced they would oppose the accord because increases government spending by US$300 billion.
