Multiple Republican senators are considering writing a letter with their Democratic colleagues to President Donald Trump as they seek an end to the government shutdown that is nearing four weeks in length.
According to The Hill, the letter has not yet been written but ideas are being tossed around.
The letter would try to start "serious negotiating" between all parties, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said Wednesday.
The letter, according to The Hill, might include a request to reopen the government on a temporary basis without border wall funding, which is the root of the entire shutdown.
An idea "right now that I'm considering that would say open the government for three weeks but with a firm commitment from a number of members on both sides that they would seek to find common ground in an expedited fashion — that would respect the president's demand for border security and barriers — and at the same time do it in an expedited fashion," said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, said she is "sympathetic" to border security, but shutting down the government is not the way to get that done.
The shutdown has dragged on since Dec. 22 with little progress after lawmakers could not agree on funding for a border wall between the United States and Mexico. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi even said she would not allow any federal money to be used for a wall, which effectively kills any House bills to do so because of the Democratic majority in the chamber.
Vice President Mike Pence, meanwhile, spoke with Newsmax TV on Tuesday night and called on Democrats to start negotiating.
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