GOP senator: Trump immigration plan to reopen government ‘represents progress, not perfection’

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said Sunday he plans to vote for President Trump’s proposal to end the partial government shutdown, which includes funding for a border wall and protections for certain immigrants.

“It represents progress, not perfection,” Kennedy said of Trump’s plan on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

Kennedy also called Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) opposition to the proposal “predictable,” but suggested that “centrist Democrats right now are glad the president put something on the table.”

And he threw cold water on the prospect of a deal that doesn’t include funding for Trump’s desired wall along the southern border, saying such a proposal would be “dead as 4 o’clock.”

When asked if he will vote for the proposal put forward by the @realDonaldTrump to end the shutdown, @SenJohnKennedy says, “Yup.” He continued, “If you bring a plan to him that doesn’t include a wall, it’s dead as four o’clock.” pic.twitter.com/QxFY0GzPzD

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) January 20, 2019

{mosads}Trump on Saturday proposed a deal that would include more than $5 billion in funding for a wall along the southern border, a three-year extension of protections for “Dreamers” who benefit from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and Temporary Protected Status holders and funding for additional immigration judges.

The bill, if passed, would end the partial government shutdown, which has lasted 30 days and counting. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he  would bring Trump’s proposal up for a vote this week, with some Republicans quickly signaling their support.

Democratic leaders and some rank-and-file members promptly criticized the measure, with Pelosi calling it a “non-starter” and others doubting that Trump can be trusted to keep his end of the deal.