Sen. Lindsey Graham has proposed a potential solution to break the deadlock in Congress, just as the clock ticks down to a looming government shutdown. On Friday, Graham outlined a plan that could see the Senate pass a funding agreement, originally brokered between President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats, by including votes on key amendments that Graham has been championing.

The South Carolina Republican's amendments focus on stringent measures against sanctuary cities and modifications related to the now-defunct 2020 election investigation by former special counsel Jack Smith. Graham's demands have been the primary stumbling block in the Senate, halting the approval of the spending bill which needs to pass to avoid the shutdown.

Graham's proposals include a sanctuary cities amendment, which he insists must be guaranteed a vote by the Senate. “I'm asking this body to guarantee me that vote, and we move forward,” Graham stated, pressing for legislative action.

Furthermore, Graham has called for changes to how senators are treated under the law if their phone records are seized, a point of contention linked to Smith's investigation. He seeks to expand the ability to sue and to reinstate mandatory notifications to senators whose records are accessed. “We'll fix the $500,000 — count me in — but you took the notification out,” he argued, signaling his readiness to negotiate but firm on requiring certain conditions.

This development marks a sharp turn from Thursday night, when Graham described the spending bill as a “bad deal” and threatened to obstruct its passage. His opposition centered on a provision, passed by the House, which would repeal a law that granted senators cash payouts for seized phone records—a measure first revealed by POLITICO. Despite personal stakes, Graham maintained his stance was for the broader interest. “It’s not about me — 190 private groups had their phone records messed with. I want notification,” he emphasized.

The pathway to resolving this impasse now hinges on the full Senate’s agreement to include Graham’s amendments in the vote. This approach would require the unanimous consent of all 99 senators, setting the stage for intense negotiations as the deadline for the government shutdown rapidly approaches.