The latest GOP effort to end the 40-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security is "still the best landing spot," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.
Still, "we haven't heard back from the Dems yet," he told Politico.
He added that the best way for the shutdown, now entering its 40th day, to end would be for Democrats to "take a deal," but said he doubted they "have a clear idea about what they want to do or how they see us concluding."
"But hopefully they want to see it conclude, because we do, too," Thune said.
The proposal would fund much of the department, including airport workers going without pay, but would exclude immigration operations that have been central to the dispute.
Democrats are refusing to fund the department without restraints on President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement and mass deportation operations following the killing of two citizens in Minneapolis by federal agents.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Wednesday said the deal isn't close to what Democrats need to see.
"We want ICE to be compelled to conduct itself like every other police officer, every other law enforcement agency, every other cop in the country," Jeffries told reporters following a meeting in Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's office.
Jeffries also said lawmakers should stay in town until a deal can be reached.
"We need to resolve this issue," he said. "We should resolve it this week."
Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats would send Republicans an offer. "And I can assure you, it will contain significant reforms in it," he said.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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