The measure was adopted by a 81-18 vote. Because the vote was over a budgetary issue, the Senate had to pass a 60-vote cloture threshold in order to end a filibuster by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) over U.S. immigration policy that was unrelated to the budgetary measure.

Democrats, as they have in the past, blamed President Donald Trump and the Republican Party for refusing to negotiate a pathway for citizenship for an estimated 10 million illegals through the DACA program. The White House had blasted Democrats for holding the country hostage over the issue.

Ahead of the cloture vote, Schumer said he had reached an assurance from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to allow debate and an up-or-down vote on a bill to provide a pathway to citizenship for DACA illegals, which he frequently conflated with the DREAM Act.

The continuing resolution will allow the federal government to remain in operation through February 8th.

In the meantime, many government offices and services were shuttered Monday and will continue to remain closed until government funding is restored. Members of the military and critical border and homeland security officials remained working, without pay.

TruNews copy