Article snippet: Senate Majority Leader a "non-starter," dubbing the proposal "the Pelosi plan" and saying that it "fails to secure the border and puts the needs of other countries above the needs of our own." Members of congressional leadership, including McConnell, met with Trump and Department of Homeland Security make no progress toward a deal, and are expected to meet again on Friday. House Democrats are expected to vote on Thursday on a package to reopen the government. One bill would fund DHS through Feb. 8. The second would fund the remaining six bills through Sept. 30, the end of the 2019 fiscal year. The shutdown began Dec. 22 amid a stalemate on the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The Senate had passed a seven-week stopgap bill and expected Trump would sign it. But the president, under fire from conservative lawmakers and allies, refused to support the bill and doubled down on his demand for $5 billion. The House bill is considered dead on arrival in the Senate, where McConnell has pledged he will not bring it up. McConnell on Wednesday night that he is not interested in "having show votes" in the Senate. “The Senate will not waste its time considering a Democratic bill which cannot pass this chamber and which the president will not sign,” he added. The Hill 1625 K Street, NW Suite 900 Washington DC 20006 | 202-628-8500 tel | 202-628-8503 fax The contents of this site are ©2019 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc. Link to the full article to read more