No sign of agreement to end partial government shutdown



[ad_1]

Capitol Hill remained silent during the Christmas holidays and, although both houses of Congress are expected to meet on Thursday, no vote is expected or any sign that lawmakers will return to Washington this week.

Although he thinks the partial closure will last, the president has maintained his position.

"No matter what it takes," Trump said. "I mean, we're going to have a wall, we're going to have security, we need security for our country."

Funding for about a quarter of the government expired at midnight early Saturday after the failure of the legislature and the White House

Trump blames the Democrats for the partial closure of the federal government, although he has said earlier this month that he would own any closure and would be "proud" to do it over border security.

"Nancy launches the fire," said the president on Wednesday, citing minority House leader Nancy Pelosi, who is confident of becoming president of the House once the Democrats have won the majority. next month. Trump hinted that the California Democrat was blocking funding from the Wall to strengthen support for her offer, adding, "Probably if they do something, she will not get the votes."

Negotiations were largely held at the staff level this week after Vice President Mike Pence made a $ 2.5 billion border security bid over the weekend. of the $ 5 billion requested by Trump and included in a room. -passed invoice.

The Democrats made it clear that Pence's offer was a non-strategist and they seem to be holding their previous bid, which includes $ 1.3 billion in new funding for border security with help from Emergency in case of disaster.

In a statement made on Christmas Eve, Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer of New York City said negotiations were in disarray because of conflicting messages on the other end from Pennsylvania Avenue.

"Different people from the same White House Saying different things about what the president would accept or would not agree to end his Trump decision, making it impossible to know where they are at a given time," said the Democratic leaders. "The president wanted closure, but he seems not to know how to get out of it."

Their statement comes as Trump has launched a series of Christmas Eve tweets accusing the Democrats of not having made a reply after Pence made his offer. the weekend.

"At one point, the Democrats who do not want to reach an agreement will cost our country more money than the border wall we all talk about," the president tweeted. "Crazy!"

  Trump moaned while he was all alone & # 39; at the White House on Christmas Eve

At a Christmas Day phone call with US troops, Trump did not provide for the reopening of government agencies, claiming only that "it will not be open so much that we will not have a wall, a fence, etc. " they would like to call him. "

During his visit to US troops in Iraq, the president was repeatedly questioned about his willingness to accept $ 2 billion for the border wall." He dodged the issue three times before finally say, "I will not talk about it now."

Democrats in the House should introduce a bill to reopen the government at the new session, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Republican of Kentucky, made it clear that he would only introduce Trump-backed bills and likely to get 60 votes in the Senate.

Rep. Mark Meadows, a Republican from North Carolina President and chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus Group, said on Wednesday that Trump's determination to secure $ 5 billion for border security was "very firm."

"I can tell you, if (democr) ates) believe that this president will give in on this particular issue, they read it badly, the American people, "said Meadows to CNN's Manu Raju, on" Inside Politics ".

"I do not see any evidence to suggest it would approach nearly $ 1.3 billion," said Meadows. "I do not see that as a reasonable counter-offer."

  Mark Meadows says Trump is still

Trump asserted this week – without explanation – that he had recently approved 115 miles of border fence and that He would go to the news A pan of the wall in January, although the White House did not provide details on the fence.

"It will be built, hopefully soon", has he said. "I'm going there in late January for the start of construction. That's a big stretch. "

CNN's Kevin Liptak, Phil Mattingly, Allie Malloy and Manu Raju contributed to this report.

[ad_2]
Source link