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Scoop: Schumer rallies Democrats as shutdown deadline looms

Scoop: Schumer rallies Democrats as shutdown deadline looms
Senate Democrats encouraged each other to dig in and stand up to President Trump on government funding during a private caucus meeting Tuesday, Axios has learned.Why it matters: A government shutdown is just hours away without a compromise from lawmakers — and Democratic resolve is only strengthening.The meeting of Senate Democrats on Tuesday was described by multiple sources as a motivational one, with lawmakers encouraging each other to hold their ground against the administration.Trump spent much of Tuesday essentially warning Democrats that during a shutdown he could do things like "cutting vast numbers of people out, cutting things that (Democrats) like, cutting programs that they like."A small group of Senate Democrats, though, remain on the fence on the funding fight, the sources said. But there is almost certainly not enough Democratic support to pass a funding measure before midnight.The big picture: Instead of racing toward a deal to avoid a government shutdown, Tuesday was full of finger-pointing."We are 10 hours away from government funding expiring simply because Republicans are not serious about keeping it open," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said at a Capitol press conference. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters that "there isn't any substantive reason why there ought to be a government shutdown.""If the government shuts down, it is on the Senate Democrats," Thune said.Between the lines: Senate Republicans need at least eight Democratic lawmakers to vote to fund the government. While some Democrats might cross the aisle, getting to eight is unlikely.Some Senate Democrats still aren't sold on the idea of shutting the government down, according to multiple sources.Sources pointed to moderates like Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) as senators to watch. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has already said he will vote for the bill.Go deeper: 750K federal workers risk furloughs in government shutdown, CBO estimates

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