Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellFEC flags McConnell campaign over suspected accounting errors Poll: 59 percent think president elected in November should name next Supreme Court justice Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ky.) said Wednesday he will move a stopgap measure funding the government until early February. 

The measure if passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?'  Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE would prevent a partial shutdown set to begin Saturday and would fund government departments and agencies through Feb. 8. 

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It will keep funding for border fencing flat and punt a showdown on that issue until next year — when Trump will have less leverage with Democrats in control of the House. 

McConnell warned that Trump has no intention of dropping the issue. 

"There will be important unfinished business in front of us and we'll owe it to the American people to finally tackle it," he said. 

The move signals that negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats over a larger spending package are breaking down. 

McConnell said the stopgap is necessary because “our Democratic colleagues rejected an extremely reasonable offer,” which Trump and the GOP leader offered this week: a spending package that included $1.6 billion for border fencing and $1 billion for other immigration-related matters. 

Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (N.Y.) later rejected what he said would be a “slush fund” for Trump to carry out his “radical” immigration agenda. 

“I’m sorry that my Democratic colleagues couldn’t put the partisanship aside and show the same good-faith flexibility that the president has shown in order to provide the resources of our nation needs to secure the integrity of our borders as well as the safety of American families,” McConnell said on Wednesday. 

McConnell said he will continue to negotiate with Schumer and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiHoyer: House should vote on COVID-19 aid — with or without a bipartisan deal Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at Supreme Court McCarthy threatens motion to oust Pelosi if she moves forward with impeachment MORE (Calif.) but plans to move the stopgap measure as a fallback. 

"The Senate will continue our work on the remaining bills, the result of bipartisan work and collaboration, and in the meantime we will turn to a clean continuing resolution later today so we can make sure we don't end this year the way we began it, with another government shutdown because of Democrats' allergy to sensible policies," he said.