Now Senate Democrats have to decide: fight or fold.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his caucus holds the fate of a government shutdown in their hands after the House passed a six-month spending plan running through September.
Given the necessary 60 votes to pass the bill in the Senate to send it to President Donald Trump, at least seven Democratic votes are required to keep the government running past Friday. It might be more with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) signaling he’ll oppose the measure.
Despite the potential high stakes, the drama appears low.
If Democrats were ready ...