While U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said that President Trump's plan to get border wall funding in exchange for temporary protections for some immigrants is not ideal, it would result in the reopening of government, which she said is her priority. From the Senate floor Wednesday, Collins said that the shutdown is causing real harm and asked that specific proposals be put on the table.
Collins said government shutdowns are always harmful to federal employees and their families, to Americans who need help from closed government agencies and to the U.S. economy.
“So that the administration, Republicans and Democrats in both the Senate and the House, can see signs of good faith and compromise,” she said.
Collins said the Trump plan, to be considered in the Senate Thursday, avoids what she called the “chicken and egg” dilemma of which should be considered first: reopening government or border security.
Originally published Jan. 23, 2019 at 5:33 p.m. ET.