Senate fails to advance spending package after Democrats refuse to back DHS funding

Federal government could see a shutdown on Friday as Democrats stall funding bill over immigration enforcement reformA key vote intended to head off a partial government shutdown failed in the Senate on Thursday, after Democrats refused to back funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unless it included reforms to federal agents involved in Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign.However a Senate aide confirmed that Democrats have been negotiating with Republicans on a deal that could result in passage of most government funding bills and a short-term measure covering the DHS, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the US border patrol. Continue reading...