Two separate efforts to end the partial government shutdown in the US have failed.
Neither of the competing bills put forward by Republicans and Democrats gained the necessary majority in the Senate to end the impasse.
The longest shutdown in US history is now into its 35th day, with around 800,000 federal workers due to miss their second pay cheque of the year today.
Donald Trump is continuing to demand $5.7 million in funding for a border wall with Mexico, and has refused to sign any spending bill that doesn't include it.
Nancy just said she “just doesn’t understand why?” Very simply, without a Wall it all doesn’t work. Our Country has a chance to greatly reduce Crime, Human Trafficking, Gangs and Drugs. Should have been done for decades. We will not Cave!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019
Yesterday's Republican bill included the wall funding.
It also offered temporary protections for young undocumented immigrants, although proposed new limits on the asylum process in the US.
The Democrats, meanwhile, put forward a stopgap bill which would provide two weeks of federal government funding.
The latter bill received most support from senators - including from six Republicans - but ultimately still fell eight votes short of the 60-vote majority necessary for it to pass.
With the record shutdown continuing, US media reported that politicians began fresh bipartisan discussions to find a resolution in the wake of the Senate bills being rejected.
Longest ever shutdown
Polls have shown that a majority of Americans blame President Trump for the shutdown.
A POLITICO/Morning Consult poll released this week showed 54% of US voters blaming Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill for the government shutdown, compared to 35% blaming congressional Democrats.
It has also seen Trump's approval ratings impacted, with the same poll showing a 40% approval rating compared to a 57% disapproval rating.
Senate leader Mitch McConnell insisted their bill yesterday was intended as "a bipartisan compromise on the issue of immigration and border security".
The choice is clear: making law versus making points. Denying the President one-tenth of 1% of spending for border security our nation needs is not worth hurting this many people. pic.twitter.com/LeoAeoSInr
— Leader McConnell (@senatemajldr) January 24, 2019
Democrats, meanwhile, have been highlighting the difficulties faced by federal workers amid the ongoing shutdown.
Calling on Republicans to end the impasses, House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday said: "We’ve heard from air traffic controllers. We’ve heard from FBI agents. We’ve heard from the Coast Guard.
"The Trump Shutdown is causing real challenges for those entrusted with protecting our national security."
They've also criticised some members of the Trump administration for their recent responses to the situation:
Wilbur Ross is @realDonaldTrump’s Secretary of Commerce.
Wilbur Ross is a billionaire.
And this is billionaire Wilbur Ross saying he doesn’t understand why federal workers not getting paid during the #TrumpShutdown don’t just take out loans *to feed their families*.
Unreal. pic.twitter.com/YHHZqKa8sx
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 24, 2019
