This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/02/trump-government-shutdown-meeting-democrats-republicans

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump and top lawmakers fail to resolve shutdown after meeting Trump and top lawmakers fail to resolve shutdown after meeting
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump and top congressional leaders failed to resolve a partial government shutdown that has stretched well into a second week as the president refused to back off from his demands for billions of dollars for a long-promised wall along the southern US border with Mexico.Donald Trump and top congressional leaders failed to resolve a partial government shutdown that has stretched well into a second week as the president refused to back off from his demands for billions of dollars for a long-promised wall along the southern US border with Mexico.
Mitt Romney: Trump's biggest failure is a lack of character in leading 'divided' nationMitt Romney: Trump's biggest failure is a lack of character in leading 'divided' nation
Democratic and Republican leaders from both chambers were invited to the the White House’s Situation Room, the inner sanctum for classified meetings, on Wednesday for a “border security briefing”. During the meeting Trump asked Department of Homeland Security officials to “make a plea” for his wall.Democratic and Republican leaders from both chambers were invited to the the White House’s Situation Room, the inner sanctum for classified meetings, on Wednesday for a “border security briefing”. During the meeting Trump asked Department of Homeland Security officials to “make a plea” for his wall.
At a cabinet meeting prior to the briefing, Trump warned that parts of the government would could remain closed for a “a long time” without a deal.At a cabinet meeting prior to the briefing, Trump warned that parts of the government would could remain closed for a “a long time” without a deal.
“We’re asking the President to open up government,” Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to assume the speakership of the House of Representatives on Thursday, said after the briefing with the president. “We are giving him a Republican path to do that. Why would he not do it?”“We’re asking the President to open up government,” Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to assume the speakership of the House of Representatives on Thursday, said after the briefing with the president. “We are giving him a Republican path to do that. Why would he not do it?”
The shutdown was triggered by Trump’s demand that Congress allocate more than $5bn in taxpayer money to build a wall along the 2,000-mile border between the US and Mexico – a concession Democrats refuse to make.The shutdown was triggered by Trump’s demand that Congress allocate more than $5bn in taxpayer money to build a wall along the 2,000-mile border between the US and Mexico – a concession Democrats refuse to make.
The shutdown, which entered its 12th day on Wednesday, has affected nearly 800,000 federal workers. The incoming House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, said Trump invited leaders back to the White House on Friday.The shutdown, which entered its 12th day on Wednesday, has affected nearly 800,000 federal workers. The incoming House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, said Trump invited leaders back to the White House on Friday.
Pelosi said the Democrats will still vote on Thursday, as Congress starts its new session with the Democratic party in the majority in the House after victories in the midterm elections last November. Democrats intend to introduce a pair of funding bills that would end the shutdown, but without money for a border wall. They bills would allocate $1.3bn for border security measures, such as increased surveillance and fencing. Pelosi said the Democrats will still vote on Thursday, as Congress starts its new session with the Democratic party in the majority in the House after victories in the midterm elections last November. Democrats intend to introduce a pair of funding bills that would end the shutdown, but without money for a border wall. The proposal includes $1.3bn for border security measures that can be used to repair and replace fencing and existing portions of the wall.
The White House has called such a legislative package a “non-starter”.The White House has called such a legislative package a “non-starter”.
The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation last month that would have funded the government through 8 February without money for a border wall. But Republican leaders in the House refused to hold a vote on the measure. The Republican-controlled Senate passed a spending bill last month that would have funded the government through 8 February without money for a border wall. But Republican leaders in the House refused to hold a vote on the measure.
“Our question to the president and to the Republicans is why don’t you accept what you have already done [in order] to open up government?” Pelosi said.“Our question to the president and to the Republicans is why don’t you accept what you have already done [in order] to open up government?” Pelosi said.
On Capitol Hill after the briefing on Wednesday, Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, told reporters that it could take “weeks” to break the stalemate and that Wednesday’s meeting did not produce “any particular progress”.On Capitol Hill after the briefing on Wednesday, Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, told reporters that it could take “weeks” to break the stalemate and that Wednesday’s meeting did not produce “any particular progress”.
“We are hopeful that somehow in the coming days or weeks we will be able to reach an agreement,” he added.“We are hopeful that somehow in the coming days or weeks we will be able to reach an agreement,” he added.
The White House visit by Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer was their first since their televised showdown with Trump in the Oval Office last month. The White House visit by Pelosi and Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer was their first since their televised showdown with Trump in the Oval Office last month. During the meeting Trump said he would be “proud” to shut down the government.
Schumer said he implored Trump to reopen the government while they debated their differences over the border wall.Schumer said he implored Trump to reopen the government while they debated their differences over the border wall.
“We asked him to give us one good reason – I asked him directly,” Schumer said. “He could not give a good answer.”“We asked him to give us one good reason – I asked him directly,” Schumer said. “He could not give a good answer.”
He added: “To use the shutdown as hostage – which they had no argument against – is wrong.”He added: “To use the shutdown as hostage – which they had no argument against – is wrong.”
Trump made his case for the wall during extensive comments to the press in which he made several false claims and mischaracterizations. At the start of his cabinet meeting, Trump said the border was “like a sieve” and insisted the US needed a “physical barrier” to deter illegal border crossers. Trump made his case for the wall during extensive comments to the press in which he made several false or misleading claims about illegal immigration and border wall. At the start of his cabinet meeting, Trump said the border was “like a sieve” and insisted the US needed a “physical barrier” to deter illegal border crossers.
US politicsUS politics
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi
DemocratsDemocrats
RepublicansRepublicans
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on Google+Share on Google+
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content