The U.S. government is once again embroiled in a shutdown crisis, with both parties at an impasse over the temporary funding bill

Democratic members of the U.S. Senate gathered on Wednesday to discuss a temporary funding bill passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives (the Senate needs 60 votes to advance this bill, and Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate), with only two days left before a partial government shutdown. The Democratic leader in the Senate, Schumer, called for an extension of current spending for one month so that there would be time to complete a more comprehensive appropriations bill this year, but this strategy is unlikely to succeed. Schumer warned that all 47 Democratic senators unanimously opposed the six-and-a-half-month funding bill passed by the House; only one Democrat in the House voted in favor. In his brief speech to the Senate, Schumer said: "I hope my Republican colleagues can join us in avoiding a shutdown on Friday." Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin stated, "If they decide to shut down the government, it's 100% Schumer's shutdown."