GOP Sen. Shelby: Shutdown Might Be Here 'for a Long Haul'

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is not too optimistic about the ongoing government shutdown coming to an end.

"I'm thinking we might be in for a long haul here," he said, according to the Washington Examiner. "I'm not optimistic now."

The partial shutdown began Dec. 22 after lawmakers were unable to agree on funding a border wall between the United States and Mexico. Trump and many Republicans want the wall, but Democrats are opposed to it.

With Democrats now controlling the House, the prospect of building the wall have decreased.

"If we can ever get over this, I think then you've got another week – a new week, a new day, and so forth," said Shelby, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. "If we don't get over this — if this goes on for months and months, and it could, I hope not— then that might be a preview of coming attractions."

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