Donald Trump announced that he would not meet with top congressional Democrats to discuss their demands for funding the federal government. Congress is up against the clock with a September 30th deadline. In fact, Congress will need to approve additional funding by September 30th to prevent a government shutdown. The Democrats have proposed legislation to fund the government through October 31, while Republicans have introduced an alternative plan for funding through November 21.
Democrats are pushing hard to make sure their healthcare priorities are included in any funding deal. They have offered $326 million in spending commitments, aiming to reverse recent changes made to Medicaid, which they argue could lead to millions losing their healthcare. Republicans have only put forward $88 million in new spending and are looking to lock in changes made earlier this year.
In response to the letter, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, blasted Trump for “wriggling out” of negotiations. He stated, “Trump is running away from the negotiating table before he even gets there. While Americans face rising costs and a Republican healthcare crisis, Trump would rather throw a tantrum than do his job.”
If it doesn’t happen, the anticipated shutdown would lead to the shuttering of most federal agencies and the furlough of more than a million federal workers. This impending crisis has led Democratic Congressional leaders to call for action and negotiations to avoid the looming crisis. In Hakeem Jeffries’ Trump Always Chickens Out Op-ed, he amplified the frustration on both sides of the aisle over Donald Trump’s refusal to come to the table.
In a statement responding to the Democrats’ proposal, Trump called their demands “unserious and ridiculous.” He stated, “After reviewing the details of the unserious and ridiculous demands being made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats in return for their Votes to keep our thriving Country open, I have decided that no meeting with their Congressional Leaders could possibly be productive.”
Even though he wouldn’t meet with them, here too, Trump was right to focus on lower costs in general and that includes tackling healthcare. He stated, “We must keep the Government open, and legislate like true Patriots rather than hold American Citizens hostage.” He further asserted that he would be willing to meet if Democrats agreed to the principles outlined in his letter.
Despite the clock slowly running out on the funding deadline, both sides are still unwilling to budge, even as the government shutdown looms. Tensions are understandably high, and very different proposals are competing. Congress has a steep task ahead, which includes overcoming their differences and doing so quickly to stave off another federal shutdown.