Pedersen said that number might have to change to get enough votes to pass the bill out of the Senate Housing Committee or off the floor. The bill passed out of the House by a 53-42 vote on March 10. The Senate will take public testimony on the proposal on March 19.

Democrats were stuck between two choices they despised: Vote for a funding bill that reflects Republican spending priorities and will give Trump and his allies more leeway to dismantle the federal government, or shut the government down by denying their vote and risk facing political backlash and blame.