‘If there’s a shutdown, it’s only because of the Democrats,’ Trump said, while Schumer announced he would vote to keep the government open.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump met with Republicans from the Senate Finance Committee at the White House on March 13 to discuss a budget proposal that outlines the president’s policy priorities, including extensions of tax cuts.
The meeting took place against the backdrop of an ongoing government shutdown threat from Senate Democrats and rising disagreements over a budget plan with House Republicans.
Although the meeting was not publicly announced, the White House confirmed that Trump met with committee members in the afternoon following his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office.
Congress is facing the possibility of a government shutdown, if lawmakers fail to pass a funding bill by March 14.
On March 11, the House of Representatives passed a bill to fund the government through Sept. 30. The bill increases defense spending by about $6 billion while cutting non-defense spending by some $13 billion. The measure, known as a continuing resolution, passed in a near party-line vote of 217-213.
Senate Republicans now require Democratic votes to advance the bill. However, some Democrats have opposed the measure, stating that they prefer a clean 30-day government spending bill that will fund the government at the existing level rather than a six-month funding measure.
On March 12, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer stated that Democrats wouldn’t vote for the bill passed by the House and that the GOP, with its slim majority, wouldn’t have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster in the upper chamber. However, just a day later, Schumer reversed his position, announcing he would support the bill to keep the government open. More Democrats are expected to align with his decision.
“While the CR bill is very bad, the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are much, much worse,” Schumer said in a floor speech. “I believe allowing Donald Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown is a far worse option.”
By Emel Akan
