Seven renegade Republicans join Democrats to stall massive spending deal

Seven Republicans voted against a massive spending bill a day before the government is set for a partial shutdown.

The funding package stalled Thursday after six GOP senators – Ted Budd (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ashley Moody (R-FL), Rand Paul (R-KY), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) – voted no, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune changed his vote and joined them so he could bring the package up again for a later vote, reported CNN.

"We’re getting closer. Hope it lands. My hope and expectation is that if the White House and Senate Dems work this out they will be able to produce the votes that are necessary to get it passed,” Thune said.

No Democrats voted in favor of the package, which failed 45-55, as they push for changes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies following the fatal shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota.

Democrats have called for DHS funding to be split from the rest of the spending bill, and unless all 100 senators agree to that, funding could lapse for several agencies, including the Defense Department and the Department of Health and Human Services.

If an agreement is reached, the resulting bill would have to be approved by both chambers after the narrowly divided House is called back to Washington by Monday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has said the Democrats are demanding changes to ICE tactics and protocols, such as enforcing a code of conduct and restricting the use of warrants, before approving funds for DHS.

However, ICE would remain operational through funding approved in President Donald Trump’s domestic policy package last summer even if the government is partially shut down.