Amid a partial government shutdown that went into effect Saturday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries now says Democrats will not join Republicans in expediting the passage of the Senate-passed funding package -- and the partial shutdown is expected to last longer than first anticipated.
Jeffries confirmed the Democrats' position in an interview Saturday on MSNOW.
The Senate voted Friday to separate out extended funding for the Department of Homeland Security after reaching a deal with the White House to put that off for two weeks to negotiate Democratic demands for restrictions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, including requiring agents to wear body cameras turned on and to wear no masks.
It was initially expected that the House Speaker would take up the measure on the House floor on Monday under suspension of the rules -- requiring a two-thirds majority for passage.
Johnson will now have to first pass the package through the House Rules Committee before it can be taken to the floor for a vote so Republicans can attempt to pass the package with a simple majority.
The committee announced Saturday that the markup on the Senate-passed funding package is set to occur on Monday at 4 p.m. -- the first of many steps before the package can receive a full vote on the House floor.
A GOP House leadership source told ABC News a final vote on the funding package to end the partial shutdown is expected to occur on Tuesday, though the timing could slide. There are several procedural steps before the House can vote on final passage, and it is unclear if Johnson has the necessary GOP support to advance the package given his slim majority.
Explaining his position, Jeffries said in the MSNOW interview: "We need a full and complete debate, and what I've made clear to House Republicans is that they cannot simply move forward with legislation taking a 'my way or the highway' approach in the absence of House Democrats convening, which we're going to do tomorrow, and having a discussion about the appropriate way forward."
Jeffries said the reason for this decision is because there has not been an agreement on the demands from Democrats for reforms at DHS.
"We need a clear path forward, and we haven't had that discussion with the White House or anyone within the administration, and the things that we've talked about needing to occur, and we understand that we're going to have to build this into law, and that's what's contemplated," he said.
"We need ICE and DHS agencies to conduct themselves like every other law enforcement agency in the country. And what we're saying is that if we're contemplating a two week freeze in order to get us to a place where we can see dramatic change, we want to understand that there's an ironclad path forward to get those things done," he later added.
Last-minute Senate vote
The latest uncertainty in the government funding saga comes after the Senate met a last-minute deadline Friday to approve a revised package of government funding bills.
The vote was 71-29, with only five Republicans voting against: Sens. Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson and Rick Scott.
The way for the Senate to vote was cleared earlier Friday when Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham lifted his hold after securing a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune for a vote on banning sanctuary cities in the coming weeks.
Graham earlier Friday had outlined his demands for lifting his hold: a promise of a vote at a later date on his bill to end so-called sanctuary cities that resist the administration's immigration policies, and a vote related to controversial Arctic Frost provisions, which allow members of Congress to sue the government if federal investigators gain access to their phone records without their knowledge. Those provisions were stripped out of the funding package initially passed by the House.
In a statement Friday afternoon, Graham said Senate Majority Leader John Thune supported his conditions.
"I will lift my hold and vote for the package," Graham said.
The agreement announced Thursday would see most of the federal government funded through September, while DHS would be funded for two additional weeks at current spending levels to allow lawmakers to negotiate on other provisions in the package.
Government funding negotiations hit snag after Democrats announce deal
The funding fight over DHS erupted in the aftermath of the death of Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, who was killed in a shooting involving federal law enforcement in Minneapolis over the weekend.
With Senate passage in the rear-view mirror, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer laid out the pillars of reform to the Homeland Security bill that Democrats will fight to enact over the next two weeks.
"The bottom line is very simple: the American people are crying out for change," Schumer said immediately following the Senate vote Friday evening. "This is not America, not America. And when you see those images, know that something is dramatically wrong and it must change. We are fighting to change it. Will our Republican colleagues join us now?"
With only two weeks to negotiate changes, Schumer stressed that Democrats will demand an end to roving patrols, enforce accountability and mandate masks off and body-cameras turned on.
"If our colleagues are not willing to enact real change, real strong change, they should not expect Democratic votes," Schumer said. "We have only a few days to deliver real progress for the American people, the eyes of the nation are watching."
Schumer said he intends to huddle with Thune to set the parameters of negotiations -- not necessarily President Trump.
"We're going to have a group of Democrats negotiate. We're going to have to negotiate with the Republicans to get this done," Schumer said. "But as we've said over and over again, they shouldn't expect our votes if they're not willing to go along with strong legislation."
"We need Democrats and Republicans in the Senate to pass this, so I'm going to talk to Thune," he said.
Amid a partial government shutdown that went into effect Saturday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries now says Democ...
