No deal to end shutdown; Trump says 'could be a long time'
Source: Associated Press
No deal to end shutdown; Trump says could be a long time
By LISA MASCARO and CATHERINE LUCEY
January 2, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) No one budged at President Donald Trumps White House meeting with congressional leaders Wednesday, so the partial government shutdown persisted through a 12th day over his demand for billions of dollars to build a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico. Theyll try again Friday.
In one big change, the new Congress convenes Thursday with Democrats taking majority control of the House, and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said outside the White House that there would be rapid passage of legislation to re-open the government without funds for the border wall. But the White House has rejected that package, and Trump said ahead of the session with the congressional leaders that the partial shutdown will last as long as it takes to get the funding he wants.
Could be a long time or could be quickly, Trump said during lengthy comments at a Cabinet meeting at the White House, his first public appearance of the new year. Meanwhile, the shutdown dragged through a second week, closing some parks and leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay.
Democrats said they asked Trump directly during Wednesdays private meeting held in the Situation Room why he wouldnt consider their package of bills. One measure would open most of the shuttered government departments at funding levels already agreed to by all sides. The other would provide temporary funding for Homeland Security, through Feb. 8, allowing talks to continue over border security.
I said, Mr. President, Give me one good reason why you should continue your shutdown, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said afterward. He could not give a good answer.
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