Friday, April 19, 2024
Friday, April 19, 2024
Top Democrats were scheduled to meet Tuesday with President Trump to discuss a budget deal to avert an impending government shutdown, but Democrats canceled the meeting and bipartisan talks on Capitol Hill came to a halt after Trump released a tweet saying he saw no potential for compromise.
Both sides blamed each other for failing to treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said Democrats remain willing to discuss a fiscal year 2018 budget deal with Republicans, but questioned the president's commitment to a bipartisan compromise.
"The president doesn't indicate he's serious. We're not going to sit down just for a photo op," he told reporters during a weekly briefing.
"There are two sides to a negotiation, the president doesn't seem to understand that," he continued.
In advance of his meeting with Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Trump tweeted Tuesday: "Meeting with 'Chuck and Nancy' today about keeping government open and working. Problem is they want illegal immigrants flooding into our Country unchecked, are weak on Crime and want to substantially RAISE Taxes. I don't see a deal!"
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) questioned the seriousness of Democrats.
"I never refused to go to a meeting President Obama called," he told reporters. "It strikes me as a lack of seriousness about the matter before us."
The federal government is operating under a continuing resolution set to expire Dec. 8. At present, both sides agree they want to increase spending above the caps set by the 2011 Budget Control Act, but are fighting over how much relief should be granted for defense and non-defense priorities.
Republicans have successfully pushed through a defense authorization bill that would break the BCA defense cap by nearly $80 billion, while Senate appropriators have put forth a bill that would break the cap by $32 billion.
Schumer said Democrats backed the increased defense spending, but would continue to demand "parity" for non-defense spending.
Byron Callan, an analyst with Capital Alpha Partners, wrote in a note to clients that news of the stalled talks "raises the conceivable risk of a federal shutdown in December," though he noted it is "highly probable that there will be another continuing resolution beyond Dec. 8 when the current one ends."
Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) told reporters it remains unclear how long the CR would have to be extended if the impasse continues.
"I don't think we know the answer to that yet," he said. "It's hard to talk about keeping the government open when the Democrats take themselves out of he picture."
Schumer said Democrats remained open to negotiations.
"When the president stays out of it we seem to do much better," Schumer said. "The government runs out of money on Dec. 8. We're waiting for them to come to us and we will work with them to get it done."