Ohio U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown is indicating he’s open to a Republican plan for a short-term spending bill, one that does not include a fix for the nation’s nearly 700,000 so-called “Dreamers.” From member station WKSU, M.L. Schultze reports.
Brown, a Democrat, says he likes parts of the new Republican bill that are being floated, including a six-year renewal of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
He also says he’s long opposed the threat of government shutdowns as a dangerous game of chicken.
“Every year or so, there’s threats to shut the government down, sort of tea party talking points, and bust a hole in the budget. And I’m hopeful we don’t do that and that the adults come into the room and we solve this as we should.”
Democrats have seen the spending bill as a way to address DACA, the program covering the legal immigration status of about 700,000 young people who arrived in this country as children.
But Brown says he’s had separate discussions with Democratic Senate leadership and is preparing to talk to Republicans about a quick vote on a separate DACA bill.
He says he believes there are 60 votes in the Senate to address a fix.