As shutdown looms, Republicans negotiate with themselves

Plus: Bannon testimony No Images? Click here         With A Possible Shutdown Hours Away, Republicans Are Negotiating With Themselves Just a few days before a shutdown, lawmakers are still sorting out how they plan to fund the government past Friday. House Republican leaders put forward a plan Tuesday night that would extend government operations for another month, fund the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years as a lure for Democrats and try to win GOP support by delaying some taxes on health insurance plans. That bill would have a decent chance of passing the House and Senate, with Democrats still calling for a legislative fix for the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) immigration program but not necessarily willing to shut down the government in order to get a deal. In the House, this so-called continuing resolution (CR) could probably pass with just Republican votes ― or with only a few Democrats joining Republicans ― and then pass the Senate with bipartisan support. And while some Democratic senators who supported the CR in December are in question ― Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.) said Tuesday it would be “baloney” to vote for another stopgap bill ― a number of Democrats still look gettable. But that’s assuming Republicans actually move forward with this CR plan. Or that conservatives and defense hawks let them. READ MORE     WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING? Reports suggest Steve Bannon is willing to cooperate with Robert Mueller. The former White House adviser wouldn’t open up to Congress, but he’ll reportedly “answer any questions” the special counsel asks. READ MORE House Speaker Paul Ryan told Republicans they need to "pay attention" to Democrats' big special election win. In Wisconsin, Democrat Patty Schachtner won a state Senate race in a district that Donald Trump handily won in 2016. READ MORE 82 rabbis and activists were arrested on Capitol Hill during a DACA protest. “This is no time for business as usual,” said one rabbi who was among those arrested Wednesday. READ MORE    .     ICYMI Republicans didn't promise tax reform would deliver a smattering of bonuses. Bonuses are well and good, but the goal was wage gains over the long term.   A climate denial group protected a former executive who was charged with stalking a colleague, ex-staffers say. A former Heartland Institute director faced charges for violating a female subordinate’s restraining order. An official at the think tank came to his defense.   Sen. John Kennedy said "aliens won't talk to us" because we can't govern. “They look at all of this stuff, and they go, ‘These people ― they’re 13-year-olds,'" said the Louisiana Republican.    . Want more?  Eric Trump: My Dad Isn’t Racist Because He Only ‘Sees 1 Color, Green’ Chuck Grassley’s Yearlong, One-Sided Twitter Conversation With President Trump Murders By U.S. White Supremacists More Than Doubled In 2017, New Report Shows     How will Trump’s administration impact you? Sign up for our email and find out. Did a friend send you this? Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Want more? Here are two other newsletters you'll love: The Morning Email and Must Reads. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe