Article snippet: Republicans are facing a starkly different shutdown fight as they close a difficult 2018 that will see them ushered out of the House majority. A little less than a year ago, MORE and his GOP allies enjoyed a victory in January over Democrats in what they termed the “Schumer shutdown.” At the time, the party was riding high off Trump’s biggest legislative victory to date: passage of a huge tax-cut bill. The GOP rejected Democratic demands to add language helping young undocumented immigrants to a government-funding bill, and then watched with glee as the opposing party took the blame for closing the government. It left Senate Democratic Leader MORE (N.Y.) and his party scrambling to contain the political fallout. But days away from another potential shutdown, it’s the GOP that seems sure to take the blame. The House has been unable to pass a measure to fund the government that would meet Trump’s demand for $5 billion in funding for his wall at the Mexican border. The party is also depressed after a House election that saw them lose the majority and 40 seats. Leadership in the House is in transition, with Speaker MORE (R-Wis.) focused on his farewell speeches. And Trump’s shocking declaration that he would be “proud” to shutter the government unless he gets his border wall all but ensured that blame will fall on Republicans if no agreement is sealed. Frustrated Senate GOP leaders appeared to throw up their hands heading into the weekend as they await some direction... Link to the full article to read more