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1 Senate Sends Resolution To Fund The Government To The House With Another 60-40 Vote
The Senate approved the funding package last night that would end the government shutdown, moving Congress closer to ending the standoff that has caused problems across the country. The Senate's final vote was a duplicate of the successful Sunday evening vote where eight Democratic senators joined Republicans to move the bill forward, passing on a 60-40 count. The final bill extends government funding through January 2026 and includes three full-year funding bills for different federal agencies and programs, and also brings back federal workers who were laid off during the shutdown. The bill still needs to pass the House and be signed by President Trump before the shutdown ends, and House Speaker Mike Johnson told members yesterday to return to Washington "right now" for a vote. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told lawmakers the House could start voting on the Senate bill as early as 3 p.m. tomorrow.
2 Supreme Court Turns Down Reconsidering Ruling That Legalized Same-Sex Marriage
The Supreme Court said yesterday that it will not reconsider its landmark 2015 ruling that established the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, rejecting an appeal from former Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis. Davis became nationally known when she stopped issuing marriage licenses to all couples after the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which said the 14th Amendment guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. David Moore and David Ermold tried to get a license from Davis's office 10 days after gay marriage became legal, but she refused, saying she was acting "under God's authority" and told them to go to another county. Davis had asked the Supreme Court to both review the lower court ruling and overturn the 2015 same-sex marriage decision.
3 Administration Again Asks SCOTUS To Approve Deploying National Guard In Chicago
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court again yesterday to allow the deployment of National Guard troops to Illinois, arguing federal immigration agents can't do the job alone. In a letter, Solicitor General John Sauer said "regular forces" in the law doesn't mean the military, but refers to ICE and DHS agents who need help. He argued the National Guard are civilians with experience handling domestic issues, while the military fights wars. Illinois and Chicago are fighting the deployment, calling it illegal. Lower courts have blocked it, saying Trump's reasons don't meet legal requirements. Trump claims troops are needed for crime in Chicago, which he calls a "war zone," and to protect immigration facilities from protesters.