Media keeps hyping the shutdown doom and gloom stories.
Via Roll Call:
Congress and President Donald Trump are basically giving up on reaching a deal to end the government’s partial shutdown for 2018, throwing in the towel until the New Year and a new Congress.
The White House and Senate Republican leaders on Thursday signaled it will then be up to Trump and the likely incoming Democratic speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to find a solution.
First, the White House released a statement that appeared to signal an end to negotiations with a Senate Democrats.
“The president has made clear that any bill to fund the government must adequately fund border security to stop the flow of illegal drugs, criminals, MS-13 gang members, child smugglers and human traffickers into our communities — and protect the American people,” the White House said in a statement that was not attributed to any senior official.
“The President does not want the government to remain shut down, but he will not sign a proposal that does not first prioritize our county’s safety and security,” the statement said.
And then, Kansas GOP Sen. Pat Roberts presided over the Senate for a brief four-minute session Thursday, with the prayer by Senate Chaplain Barry Black alluding to the gravity of the shutdown.
“Stay close to our lawmakers. Remind them to trust always in the multitude of your mercy. Deliver them from the mire of division and despair as you lead them to your desired destination,” Black said.
To that, Roberts rejoined: “Amen. Yea, verily, yea and hallelujah!”
Next up will be a Senate pro forma session on Monday, the last legislative and calendar day of the year. Short of an unexpected and long shot deal before then, it will be up to Trump and Pelosi to negotiate an end to the partial shutdown After the new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 3.