White House to Host Congressional Leaders as Shutdown Looms
WASHINGTON (AP) – With a goverment shutdown just days away,President Trump is set to meet with top congressional leaders at the White House on Monday in a last-ditch effort to avert a federal closure. The meeting comes as disagreements persist over federal funding and key policy issues, including extensions of Affordable Care Act tax credits and border wall funding.
The potential shutdown,set to begin October 1st,would impact hundreds of thousands of federal workers and disrupt government services nationwide. At stake are funding levels for numerous federal agencies, and the fate of tax credits that have subsidized health insurance for millions as the COVID-19 pandemic.These credits, designed to expand coverage for low- and middle-income individuals, are scheduled to expire at the end of the year.
Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) stated Sunday that the tax credit program is “desperately in need of reform,” and Republicans are seeking to address “waste, fraud and abuse.” He has urged Democrats to first pass the funding bill and than address the tax credits separately.
The meetingS outcome is uncertain, given a history of strained negotiations between Trump and Democratic leaders. In August, a discussion between President Trump and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer regarding Senate confirmation votes ended with Trump telling Schumer to “go to hell” in a social media post.Trump also recently canceled a planned meeting with congressional leaders,deeming Democratic demands “unserious and ridiculous.” Schumer, however, believes the White House’s decision to reschedule the meeting indicates they “felt the heat.”
