Democrats block funding bill, risking government shutdown

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats will oppose the House-passed government funding bill. He stated that Republicans did not consult them during its drafting, which could lead to a government shutdown on March 14. Schumer called for a one-month funding bill to allow more time for bipartisan negotiations. He emphasized that the current bill lacks the necessary support in the Senate to pass without Democratic votes. Despite a Republican majority in the Senate, they need 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. This means at least seven Democratic Senators must support the bill for it to move forward.