High Congressional leaders head to White Home forward of shutdown deadline : NPR

The highest 4 leaders in Congress are scheduled to satisfy with President Trump this afternoon on the White Home, simply forward of a September 30 deadline to fund the federal government and keep away from a shutdown.

The Oval Workplace assembly with Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Home Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is ready to happen forward of an anticipated Senate vote on a short-term stopgap invoice.

Home Republicans narrowly handed a seamless decision earlier this month that will fund the federal government via November 21. That measure failed within the Senate due to Democratic opposition. Republicans maintain a 53-47 majority within the chamber; they want 60 votes to move the laws.

“We’re resolute in our willpower to keep away from a authorities shutdown and handle the Republican healthcare disaster. Time is working out,” mentioned Jeffries and Schumer Saturday in a press release relating to the White Home assembly.

A gathering redo

Monday’s Oval Workplace assembly comes after President Trump abruptly canceled a deliberate assembly final week with the 2 Democratic leaders.

“After reviewing the main points of the unserious and ridiculous calls for being made by the Minority Radical Left Democrats in return for his or her Votes to maintain our thriving Nation open, I’ve determined that no assembly with their Congressional Leaders may probably be productive,” Trump posted on social media.

Democrats are pushing to make everlasting expanded tax cuts from the Inexpensive Care Act which are set to run out on the finish of the 12 months, and repeal cuts to healthcare packages that have been put in place as a part of the GOP’s spending and tax invoice invoice handed earlier this summer season.

Republicans are pushing to fund the federal government first, after which negotiate on the subsidies.

“[The expiry date] would not occur till the tip of the 12 months. We will have that dialog,” mentioned Thune Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press. “However earlier than we do, launch the hostage, set the American individuals free, preserve the federal government open and let’s have a dialog about these premium tax credit. I am definitely open to that.”

However prime Democrats have repeatedly mentioned a handshake settlement on a future negotiation concerning the subsidies is not sufficient.

“We’d like a critical negotiation,” Schumer mentioned in a separate look on Sunday’s Meet the Press. “Now, if the president at this assembly goes to rant and simply yell at Democrats and speak about all his alleged grievances and say this, that and the opposite factor, we cannot get something carried out. However my hope is it is going to be a critical negotiation.”

Clock is ticking

With out Congressional motion, authorities funding will expire at 12:01 am on Oct. 1.

Whereas crucial companies would proceed, like Social Safety and funds from Medicare and Medicaid, there may very well be delays in processing new functions for these packages.

In a shutdown, something deemed nonessential is placed on maintain, so Individuals may expertise delays in sure companies and tons of of hundreds of federal staff will go with out pay.

In a transfer to seemingly increase the stakes, the White Home’s finances arm instructed federal companies to arrange to put off staff completely, as a substitute of the standard momentary furlough.

Congressional Democrats panned the memo as an intimidation tactic.

“That is nothing lower than mafia-style blackmail,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., advised NPR. “Basically, the president is threatening to fireside devoted federal workers who don’t have anything to do with the continued political and coverage dispute.”

If the administration makes good on its menace, it may imply that each time the federal authorities does reopen, it might have a smaller workforce.