Sen. Schumer backs CR for Homeland Security

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Friday that he and other Senate Democrats would support the three-week extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security being considered by the House on Friday.

{mosads}”I don’t know if they can pass the three-week bill. We would much prefer they do a full funding bill. But we’re not going to shut the government down,” Schumer, who is vice chairman of the Democratic conference, said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

He was then pressed on whether this meant he would back a continuing resolution (CR) to avert a shutdown.

“Yes. We’re not going to shut the government down,” he said.

House Republicans are planning to vote Friday on the CR, extending the battle over President Obama’s executive actions on immigration into next month. Some conservatives are upset that the three-week measure does not do more to block the administration’s plans.

Should the House pass the bill, the Senate is expected to vote on a similar measure — though they will also vote on a longer-term funding bill for the department.

Under the three-week measure, funding for the Department will run out on March 19.