Democratic leaders demanded a meeting with President Trump Saturday as lawmakers face a Sept. 30 deadline to pass legislation to avert a government shutdown — a “desperation” move that comes a day after all-but-two Senate Dems rejected a stopgap bill that would keep funding at current levels through Nov. 21, the White House said.
“We write to demand a meeting in connection with your decision to shut down the federal government because of the Republican desire to continue to gut the healthcare of the American people,” the Empire State Democrats wrote in a letter to the president.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told Trump it is “now your obligation to meet with us directly.”
Schumer and Jeffries accused Republican congressional leaders – at Trump’s direction – of “repeatedly” refusing to “engage in bipartisan negotiations to keep the government open.”
The Democratic leaders bemoaned that “GOP majorities in the House and Senate have skipped town” following the failed Friday vote in the upper chamber, after the lower chamber approved the Trump-backed continuing resolution to keep the government open.
“Democrats have been clear and consistent in our position,” the letter continued. “We are ready to work toward a bipartisan spending agreement that improves the lives of American families and addresses the Republican healthcare crisis.”
“However, we will not support a dirty spending bill that continues the Republican assault on healthcare.”
A White House official responded to the demand, telling The Post: “Dems walked away from a bipartisan negotiation on the CR. This letter shows desperation.”
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