Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday he'll force a government shutdown unless a more South Carolina-friendly version of the funding bill is put together before Friday's deadline.
The South Carolina Republican told Politico he wants to see the bill include three additions: more defense spending than the $15 billion in additional funds that are already in there, bring the Export-Import Bank back to life, and renew energy credits for the nuclear energy industry that are about to expire. The latter two would benefit Graham's state.
"Those are two things that have been lingering problems that I've been trying to be a team player on. And this is like the third year in a row. Enough is enough," Graham told Politico. "I am definitely willing to hold the bill up."
Graham or anyone else on the Senate floor can delay the vote on a bill by asking for procedural votes and debating for 30 hours. Friday is the deadline for the funding bill to pass; if it is not enacted by then, the government will shut down.
Republicans and Democrats in the House came to an agreement on the bill, which is expected to pass Wednesday. The Senate will then take it up and vote on it.
During Tuesday's White House press briefing, director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney defended the funding bill and said Democrats were out to shut down the government to make President Donald Trump's administration look bad.
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