WMAL Interview - A.B. STODDARD - 01.22.18

Jan 22, 2018, 03:02 PM

7:35 AM - INTERVIEW - A.B. STODDARD - Associate Editor and columnist at RealClearPolitics

-- discuss the Schumer Shutdown

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SCHUMER SHUTDOWN

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2018

Statement by the Press Secretary
"Senate Democrats own the Schumer Shutdown. Tonight, they put politics above our national security, military families, vulnerable children, and our country’s ability to serve all Americans. We will not negotiate the status of unlawful immigrants while Democrats hold our lawful citizens hostage over their reckless demands. This is the behavior of obstructionist losers, not legislators. When Democrats start paying our armed forces and first responders we will reopen negotiations on immigration reform. During this politically manufactured Schumer Shutdown, the President and his Administration will fight for and protect the American people."

The government shutdown will continue into Monday. Senators inched toward a compromise on Sunday but failed to reach a deal. The government shutdown will enter its third day. Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, delayed a procedural vote on a stopgap spending bill until noon on Monday, as a bipartisan group of senators appeared to be inching toward a compromise. "We have yet to reach an agreement on a path forward that is acceptable to both sides," Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced that he would be willing to debate immigration legislation if an agreement were not otherwise reached by early February

White House: Dems Throwing ‘Two-Year-Old Temper Tantrum’ With Shutdown

House Republicans Open To 3 Week CR, Say DACA Negotiations Will Resume After Shutdown. As congressional leaders continue to struggle to strike a spending deal that can pass both chambers, House Republicans said Saturday they are open to a three-week stopgap spending bill that will help bring enough Senate Democrats on board to pass a continuing resolution (CR) and reopen the government. The House-passed four-week CR — which included a six year funding extension for the Children’s Health Insurance Program and delayed a number of the Obamacare taxes — failed on the Senate floor late Friday evening in a procedural vote. Democrats managed to block the measure from obtaining the 60 votes needed to send the bill to the president’s desk, arguing they would not vote for a spending bill until an immigration deal is reached that includes a legislative fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program — the Obama-era initiative that extended temporary legal status to foreign nationals who illegally entered the country as minors. Top lawmakers in the upper chamber are weighing a three-week extension, with Democrats pushing for a shorter timeframe to complete negotiations on spending caps and DACA.

NUCLEAR OPTION?

  • Trump urges Senate Republicans to go nuclear to pass a budget if shutdown continues

  • TWEET: Donald J. Trump‏ @realDonaldTrump: Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border. The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.’s!    7:35 AM - 21 Jan 2018

  • McConnell breaks with Trump: GOP opposes using "nuclear option" in budget debate. (The Hill) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Sunday expressed opposition to using the “nuclear option” to allow the Senate to pass a long-term budget with 51 votes.
    “The Republican Conference opposes changing the rules on legislation,” a spokesman for McConnell said.  President Trump earlier Sunday suggested Republicans should deploy the tactic if the Senate is unable to come to an agreement to fund the government.