A key GOP appropriator spoke with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday and again Thursday in rare bipartisan conversations involving the top Democrat as rank-and-file senators hunt for ways to end the 30-day government shutdown.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.), who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on Homeland Security, confirmed she spoke to Schumer about “wanting to lay the foundation for us to be able to do our appropriations work.”
Before the Thursday conversation, Britt met with Senate Majority Leader John Thune about appropriators’ push to move the three-funding bill minibus alongside a new stopgap through mid-December.
Asked about the conversation later Thursday, Thune sidestepped a question about whether he asked Britt to speak to Schumer but offered general support for the bipartisan talks. “The solution here is not going to run through Schumer,” he said.
Schumer met Thursday with members of his own caucus, including Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Angus King (I-Maine), who have been in talks with Britt and other Republicans.
Schumer did not respond to multiple questions Thursday about the funding talks. But rank-and-file Democrats who are involved are privately feeling cautiously optimistic about finding a path out of the shutdown as soon as next week, according to a person granted anonymity to disclose private discussions.
Senators left the Capitol for the weekend after a Thursday afternoon vote and will return to session Monday evening.
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