Trump Says Dems Covet Shutdown as Distraction to Tax Reform

President Donald Trump on Thursday accused Democrats of trying to force a shutdown of the government as a way to distract Americans from the tax reform legislation that Republicans just passed.

But Republicans have obstacles within their own party.

Conservatives in the House and Senate are balking at voting for any spending bill that reauthorizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and the $81 billion package in disaster aid is also a point of contention.

The Senate needs Democrats in order to reach the 60 votes needed for passage, though Republican Sens. Rand Paul and Mike Lee are threatening a "no" vote over FISA.

The House has a vote scheduled for later Thursday on the stopgap bill.

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