Key GOP senator rules out shutdown

Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) late Tuesday definitively ruled out another government shutdown as the GOP weighs options to respond to President Obama’s expected executive action on immigration. 

“We’ve been very clear we’re going to keep the government open. There’s not going to be a shutdown. There’s not going to be a default on the national debt. We’re going to work to find cooperative ways to get things done for America,” Barrasso said on Bloomberg TV.

Asked if Republican lawmakers will react to the order, Barrasso said the GOP is still exploring its options.

{mosads}“We’ll use all the options available taking a look at what the president’s doing and what we believe is legal or not legal as part of that, but I think the cooler heads need to prevail at the White House,” he said.

Barrasso said he hopes Obama will reconsider issuing the executive order, which the president might do during a surprise trip on Friday to Las Vegas, according to reports. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday he had conveyed to the White House that some members of his caucus wanted the president to wait until the next government-funding bill passes. Congress must pass a new measure by Dec. 12. 

House Republicans are mulling options to block Obama’s action, but keep at least most of the government open. Conservatives have floated a stand-alone measure, apart from the main spending bill, that would defund the immigration action. 

Other Republicans have also raised the idea of rescinding funding for the order next year once Republicans have control of both chambers. 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would likely support whatever the House passes to fund the government.