President Trump canceled a gathering to debate authorities funding with prime Democrats in Congress, leaving no clear path to avoiding a authorities shutdown subsequent week.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
President Trump canceled a gathering with Democratic leaders to debate a doable authorities funding deal. Negotiations appear to be caught. The highest Home Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries, insists any funding invoice should tackle well being care.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Our place isn’t difficult. Cancel the cuts. Decrease the prices. Save well being care.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
NPR congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh joins us as soon as once more. Deirdre, good morning.
DEIRDRE WALSH, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve.
INSKEEP: OK, so they need to have been passing one-year appropriations. They are not doing that. They’re speaking a couple of short-term extension, and Democrats wish to add this factor on well being care. And why did the president pull out of the assembly?
WALSH: Effectively, he posted a prolonged message on social media, as he does, saying that calls for from Democrats about attaching these well being care provisions have been, quote, “unserious,” and he stated no assembly may presumably be productive. Hill Republicans proposed what Democrats have voted for up to now – a straight extension of present funding ranges by way of November 21 to get to this broader spending deal. That narrowly handed within the Home final week, nevertheless it did not get the 60 votes it wants within the Senate.
INSKEEP: Oh, yeah. Thanks for the reminder. Republicans have the bulk, however within the Senate, you want greater than a majority. So what are the calls for that Democrats are making?
WALSH: Effectively, they put out an alternate invoice that additionally did not advance final week. They wish to lengthen tax credit which can be a part of the Reasonably priced Care Act. These assist middle- and working-class Individuals purchase well being care plans, they usually expire on December 31. Democrats additionally wish to roll again the Medicaid adjustments that have been a part of the president’s tax invoice that he signed in July. The president says these are all nonstarters.
INSKEEP: OK. Is there any approach to keep away from a shutdown then?
WALSH: It appears unlikely. You realize, Congress can work typically on the final minute going through a deadline to get one thing performed, however there are not any talks at this level. Republicans insist Democrats simply should again the seven-week funding invoice with out different coverage calls for on it. Congress is on recess this week. However subsequent Monday, once they get again within the Senate, the bulk chief, John Thune, says he’ll deliver up that stopgap invoice once more for a vote. They want seven Democrats to get to 60 votes. To this point, they solely have one.
There are some Republicans who agree with Democrats that Congress must do some form of extension of well being care subsidies. However since these do not expire till December, they are saying that debate should not be linked to this funding invoice. That problem may very well be some form of off-ramp to this stalemate.
INSKEEP: Oh, OK. Effectively, thanks for telling us there is perhaps one thing, regardless that we do not precisely know. However let’s discuss this by way of. The dynamic in recent times, many current years, is that Republicans appear wanting to shut the federal government down or a partial shutdown. Typically they really undergo with it they usually do it. They prepared the ground. Typically they even say they prefer it. They’ve even performed it once they had full management of presidency. However this time, it’s the Democrats who’re making an additional demand and saying they is perhaps keen to close all of it down. What modified?
WALSH: I imply, the politics are actually the driving issue proper now for Democrats. Again in March, the highest Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, infuriated the bottom when he helped Republicans keep away from a shutdown. Now he is arguing that Democrats are combating to guard well being care. The bottom actually does need this combat, and denying Republicans the vote they should advance a invoice within the Senate is basically the one energy they’ve within the minority. So I anticipate we’ll simply see this continued messaging struggle. Republicans are branding this a Schumer shutdown. If a shutdown occurs, each side are fairly arduous line of their totally different positions. So it is going to be troublesome to see how we may get out of it.
INSKEEP: NPR’s Deirdre Walsh. Thanks on your insights, as all the time.
WALSH: Thanks, Steve.
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